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Opinion
Sep. 21, 2008
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

EDITORIAL: Pathetic attacks

The Nevada Democratic Party wants to re-take control of the Nevada state Senate for the first time in 18 years.

Democrats chose to target two seats -- those of GOP state Sens. Bob Beers of Las Vegas and Joe Heck of Henderson.

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    • First step: Recruit two Democrats to run against them.

    Introducing, in this corner for today's tag team match, former water district employee Allison Copening in Mr. Beers' Senate District 6, and -- challenging Joe Heck of Henderson -- former 30-year school district secretary-turned-administrator Shirley Breeden, who unsuccessfully sued the district in 1997 after she said a colleague made a coarse remark to her and her supervisor refused to do anything about it.

    Now summer 2008 arrives and Ms. Copening and Ms. Breeden show up for the first debates and candidate forums of the season, at which point something becomes instantly obvious to all -- including pundits who generally lean to the left:

    "All sugar and spice but can't tell you the first thing about state government," said former Review-Journal political columnist Jon Ralston. "If vacuousness were an Olympic sport, we'd have had a couple of gold medal performances from Copening and Breeden during the Congregation Ner Tamid-sponsored debates."

    Echoed Steve Sebelius, editor of Las Vegas CityLife: "The worst performances we've ever seen in covering politics." A Democratic disaster. What to do?

    Ms. Copening, particularly, started turning down invitations to candidate forums. Instead, it soon became clear the new official Democratic strategy was to keep Ms. Copening largely out of sight, instead spending hundreds of thousands of dollars smearing Mr. Beers with signs and a planned series of large-scale, all-color mailers, hoping they could run up his "negatives" till voters would cast a vote for a Democrat they've never heard of.

    And what mailers they are.

    The Democratic smears now hitting mailboxes in the 6th District declare "Bob Beers Ran on Family Values and then took $10,000 in cash .... from the Nevada Porn Industry ... Bob Beers is in bed with the sex industry," etc.

    You see, in 2006, when state Sen. Beers ran in the Republican primary for governor, a local businessman who owns an adult book store gave Mr. Beers a perfectly legal $10,000 campaign contribution. When Mr. Beers lost that primary, he returned $5,000 of that money.

    Say what you want about Sen. Beers' politics, he's a perfectly normal middle-class Las Vegan, living in a perfectly normal middle-class house with the woman to whom he's been married for 26 years (his Scoutmaster's daughter, actually), putting two kids through the public schools.

    "My idea of nightlife is watching 'CSI,' " said Mr. Beers, perhaps the best friend taxpayers have in Carson City. "The real dirt on me is I play the banjo."

    In an era when Democrats shriek hysterically about largely imagined threats of Republican smears, whimpering about GOP ads about Barack Obama, this Democratic direct-mail campaign is embarrassing and pathetic.

    Though it does, at least, distract attention from the fact that their candidates apparently can't walk and chew gum at the same time -- and certainly aren't saying what they'd actually do if sent to Carson City, which is to raise taxes.

    That is what they want to do, right? That's why they want to get rid of Mr. Heck and Mr. Beers.

    So why won't they just say so?



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    if only you knew wrote on September 30, 2008 09:58 AM: To Just Sayin'
    Ms. Copening is NOT too chicken to debate in front of her constituents, she just said "no" to Ralston AT THAT TIME. She DOES know about the issues, as I said, meet with her for just five minutes-personally. She has debates scheduled with Beers. And I will accept your challenge to talk with Beers if you will acept mine.


    Just Sayin' wrote on September 25, 2008 12:19 PM: The REAL Allison Copening? A shill who doesn't know anything about the issues and is chicken to debate in front of her constituents.

    So before you write anything negative about Bob Beers, I challenge YOU to talk with him for just 5 minutes. If you do, you'll see that he is smart, caring and probably the hardest working person in the legislature.

    If only YOU knew.


    Leo wrote on September 24, 2008 09:06 AM: I attended the Ralston moderated debate, and the lack of knowledge of the two dem challengers was pretty funny. Shirley Breeden was especially painful to watch, and you could see the democrats in the room cringe each time she spoke.

    Joe Heck and Bob Beers know their stuff, and the dems spending thousands to unseat them by such as these opponents is insulting to Nevada!


    if only you knew wrote on September 23, 2008 11:36 AM: If only you knew the REAL Allison Copening, you would know that she is one of the most honest, hardworking, caring and brave people in the world. Before writing anything negative about her, I challenge each of you to talk with her for just 5 minutes. You will then see that she truly cares and will make the difference we need


    Kenny J. wrote on September 22, 2008 04:10 PM: If we're talking public employees, what about Dina Titus, John Oceguera, Kathy McClain, Sheila Leslie, Kelvin Atkinson.........

    I wonder what sort of income Copening would have if it weren't for the lucrative "consulting" contract she got from the water district after she "resigned" to supposedly campaign full time. Where does she find time to do her "consulting" AND campaign full time?


    Getit straight wrote on September 22, 2008 06:49 AM: Shady Bob - you are as bad as the Dems - get your facts right before shooting off your mouth. Joe Heck IS NOT a public employee - he i a contractor for with the Health District, so he does not receive any benefits (pension, insurance, sick days). As for the federal govt - unless you are referring to a potential pension after 20 years of service in the Reserves, standing by to protect your right to make unfounded accusations, that cannot be collected until age 60, there is federal pension either.


    Rich wrote on September 21, 2008 11:28 PM: You're right. My apologies.

    I meant quasi-public employee.


    insidesccoop wrote on September 21, 2008 10:05 PM: Ms Copening, Judge Mosley, and Ms. Breeden, have all refused to appear on the Jon Ralstons show. Either they are afraid of direct questions which they have no answers or they have much to hide, or as in Mosley's case both.


    Sad Summerlin wrote on September 21, 2008 05:49 PM: Let the slanders continue...

    Do people have no shame?


    shady bob wrote on September 21, 2008 03:53 PM: Rich...when was Copling a public employee? A Las Vegas Water District employee IS NOT a public employee.

    As for ppurcell I don't know that given your own fraudulant background with mortgage issues in CA your endorsemtn for ehtics is particulary newsworthy!

    Taxfighter: Bob Beers agreed to give $10,000,000 of the taxpayers' money to a business partner last legislative session!

    PS..Joe Heck is a public employee working on not one but TWO tax payer provided lifetime pensions! One with the Clark County Health District and one with the federal government...OH, HE TOO, IS SO MIDDLE CLASS!!! LOL!


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