Berkley: “Nancy Will Punish Me!”

Rep. Shelley Berkley votes with her party about 94 percent, but you would think when she knows a bill is bad she would vote against it.  As the wife of a physician, Berkley has a very close source on healthcare.  In a conversation with one of her biggest supporters, casino magnate Steve Wynn, Berkley said she knew Obamacare was “terrible” and her husband hated it too.  Berkley went on to say that if she voted against Obamacare “she will punish me,” the “she” being Nancy Pelosi.  Pelosi may have a lot of power, but she can’t force a member to vote one way or the other.  Of course Berkley denied the conversation, but why would Wynn lie?  Wynn and his company contributed nearly $50,000 to Berkley’s campaigns and supported President Obama.  Clearly Berkley is not the leader Nevadans need—she votes how the party leadership in Washington tells her to. 

(The Washington Post’s Votes Database, www.washingtonpost.com, Accessed 6/1/112

Steve Wynn In November 2008: “I Think We Got A Very Bright Guy [Obama] As President Of The United States.” (CNN’s “Larry King Live” 11/25/08)

“Wynn, With His Then-Wife, Backed Obama In 2008…”  (Ben Smith, “Berkley Denies Wynn’s Claim She Was Forced Into Health Care Vote,” Politico, 10/24/11)

WYNN: “I Supported A Democratic Congresswoman Named Shelley Berkley.” (Fox News’ “Cavuto,” 10/21/11)

• Wynn Resorts Have Contributed At Least $36,100 To Berkley’s Campaigns.  (The Center For Responsive Politics, www.opensecrets.org, Accessed 11/29/11)

• Wynn Has Personally Given At Least $13,400 To Berkley’s Campaigns. (Federal Elections Commission, www.fec.gov, Accessed 12/15/11)

Wynn Suggested Berkley Was Coerced Into Voting For Obamacare. “Wynn in particular had strong words for U.S. Rep. Shelley Berkley, D-Nev., suggesting she was cowed into voting for health care reform.”  (Steve Tetreault, “POLITICAL NOTEBOOK: Wynn’s Wrath Doesn’t Spare Berkley,” Las Vegas Review Journal, 10/31/11)

In A Conversation During The Obamacare Debate, Berkley Told Wynn Pelosi Would “Punish” Her If She Did Not Vote For Healthcare Reform.  WYNN: “I supported a Democratic congresswoman named Shelley Berkley. I called her during ObamaCare. I said, ‘Shelley, what are you doing? How do you do this? This is killing the unions and all of us that are supplying health care to our employees.’ And so she told me, quote — quote. Now this is not hearsay. Shelley said to me — and she’s running for the Senate. ‘Steve, I know it’s terrible. My husband is a doctor. He hates it, too.’ CAVUTO: ‘Wow!’ WYNN: ‘But if I don’t vote for it, she will punish me’ — she being Nancy Pelosi.’ CAVUTO: ‘Wow!’ WYNN: ‘And I said — I said, Shelley, every politician that’s ever sold out their constituency has had a lame, terrible rationalization like the one you just gave me. Don’t ever call me again.’” (Fox News’ “Cavuto,” 10/21/11)

A Berkley Spokeswoman Said Wynn Misremembered The Phone Conversation. “Berkley spokeswoman Jessica Mackler suggested Wynn had misremembered the conversation. ‘Steve Wynn is a busy person who has numerous phone conversations a day, so it’s not surprising that his recollection of the conversation is different than the congresswoman’s she said.” (Ben Smith, “Berkley Denies Wynn’s Claim She Was Forced Into Health Care Vote,” Politico, 10/24/11)