WASHINGTON — A small number of Democratic senators told The Daily Caller Monday night they were at least likely to attend a joint session of Congress on March 3 when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to deliver remarks critical of the administration’s nuclear negotiations with Iran.
Vice President Joe Biden and several senior Democrats will not be attending the speech. Democrats became upset when House Speaker John Boehner invited Netanyahu to speak to Congress without previously notifying the White House.
President Obama said he would not meet with the prime minister during the visit because it will come just two weeks prior the Israeli elections are scheduled to take place.
“As much as I love Angela [Merkel], if she were two weeks from an election, she probably would not have received an invitation to the White House – and I suspect she wouldn’t have asked for one,” Obama said during a joint press conference Monday with the German chancellor at the White House.
“I don’t want to be coy. The prime minister and I have a very real difference around Iran sanctions,” Obama said, adding, “It does not make sense to sour the negotiations a month or two before they’re about to be completed.”
Connecticut Sen. Richard Blumenthal explained that he has yet to make a final decision. However, he was leaning on going to the speech.
“I’m inclined to attend out of my respect for the state of Israel and the position that Mr. Netanyahu occupies but I was very disappointed in the process that led to the scheduling of his speech,” he said.
“Absolutely. Two wrongs don’t make a right,” West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin said. Florida Sen. Bill Nelson also stated he was a “yes.”
Senate Foreign Relations Committee Ranking member Robert Menendez said if the Israeli Prime Minister arrives to give remarks to Congress, he will “go and listen to the speech.”
Other Democrats, however, said they were not going or had not decided. Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders joined other Democrats in the House and stated he would not be at Netanyahu’s speech.
“I haven’t made up my mind yet. I’m still thinking about it, said Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin. “I think it’s an unfortunate occurrence for the people of Israel that this became such a political event.”
Foreign Relations Committee member Barbara Boxer does not believe Netanyahu’s visit will definitely happen, so the California Democrat refused to reveal if she would attend the speech.
Senate Select Intelligence Vice Chair Dianne Feinstein and New Jersey Sen. Corey Booker would not comment.