Boehner won’t rule out state dinner for Merkel

It’s well-known in political circles that House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) has yet to accept an invitation to attend a state dinner at the Obama White House.

But Monday’s announcement that German Chancellor Angela Merkel will be the next state-dinner honoree could sway the Speaker, who is of German descent.

A spokesman for Boehner on Monday refused to rule out the possibility that, if he were invited, the Ohio legislator would be willing to attend the June 7 dinner.

“We’ll have to see,” he told ITK.

The dinner will be part of a state visit, and Merkel will be accompanied by her husband, Dr. Joachim Sauer.

Their trip will mark the first official visit by a German chancellor or president since 1992, when then-President George H.W. Bush hosted President Richard von Weizsacker for a state dinner.

But speculation about prominent German-American politicos at the dinner likely won’t be limited to Boehner.

Sen. Dick Lugar (R-Ind.) and former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R) both have German heritage, as does liberal TV personality Keith Olbermann.

Actor and pop star David Hasselhoff is a huge star in Germany, though he’s a long shot for a state-dinner invitation.

The planned event follows previous state dinners held by the Obamas for visiting leaders from India, Mexico and China.

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