Nevada lawmakers react — and don’t — to Netanyahu’s speech

By Amber Phillips

Published Tuesday, March 3, 2015 | 11:52 a.m.

Updated Tuesday, March 3, 2015 | 5 p.m.

WASHINGTON — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s controversial speech to Congress elicited no shortage of sharp reactions.

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., released a statement saying she was “near tears” at the attacks she felt Netanyahu made on the United States and its nuclear negotiations with Iran.

President Barack Obama, who did not invite Netanyahu and said he did not watch the speech, shrugged it off, saying the prime minister made no viable alternatives to halting a nuclear Iran.

Among Nevada’s members of Congress — who all attended the speech, despite at least 55 Democrats skipping in protest — the reaction was more positive.

Here’s a roundup of what your lawmakers said:

• Sen. Harry Reid: The Senate minority leader perhaps had the toughest line to walk: He's a supporter of Netanyahu and President Obama. Several hours after Netanyahu's speech, Reid released a statement urging everyone to "take a deep breath." He urged Israel and Republicans in Congress to let Obama's negotiations with Iran play out and condemned anyone looking to score "cheap political points" by criticizing the negotiations. Reid also met privately with Netanyahu on Tuesday afternoon.

• Sen. Dean Heller, Nevada’s Republican senator, posted on Facebook after the speech that he feels it’s important America and Israel heal their differences in how to deal with Iran. “Now, more than ever, the United States must stand with Israel and its right to defend itself,” Heller said. He also tweeted before the speech a sign of his support for the state.

• Rep. Dina Titus, D-Las Vegas, Nevada’s lone House Democrat attended the speech but has not released a statement detailing what she thought of it. Shortly afterward, she posted a tweet of her speaking in the U.S. Capitol to Nevada members of the powerful American-Israel lobby, AIPAC, suggesting she also wants to underscore her support for the country.

• Rep. Mark Amodei, a Republican from Northern Nevada, had a reaction that contained what could be interpreted as a swipe at Obama. At times, Netanyahu’s address to Congress had the feel of a State of the Union. Afterward, Amodei seemed to draw that comparison to the president’s annual address to Congress.

• Rep. Joe Heck, a Republican representing Boulder City, Henderson and Summerlin, agreed with Netanyahu that America’s negotiations with Iran are counterproductive and even dangerous.

“Iran’s nuclear aspirations threaten not just Israel, but all of the Middle East, the United States, and all of society,” he said.

Heck’s office also proudly pointed out that he led an effort last year to get $15 million in additional funding for the Israeli Iron Dome missile defense system, which Netanyahu praised before Congress.

• Rep. Cresent Hardy, a Republican representing North Las Vegas and central Nevada, said Netanyahu’s speech was “on point, fair and direct.” He urged Obama to “listen to his concerns” because “the issue at hand transcends politics.”

• Sheldon Adelson is not an elected official, but the Las Vegas Sands CEO is a Republican mega donor and huge supporter of Israel. He had front-row seats to Netanyahu’s address in the gallery reserved for the public.

According to The Washington Post, Adelson also attended a fundraiser away from the Capitol for Sen. Lindsey Graham,

R-S.C., who last year supported Adelson’s push to ban online gaming and is considering a run for president.

Adelson didn’t release a statement, but it’s safe bet he loved the speech.