House Republican Suggests Obama Impeachment Is 'A Possibility'

WASHINGTON -- The rumblings have begun from the right-wing contingent of Republicans in Congress about proceeding with an impeachment to respond to President Barack Obama’s exploitation of executive order to change immigration policy. Republicans are incensed that the president is saying he will stick to his promise to slow deportations without the consent of Congress.

In an interview with conservative network Newsmax TV, Texas Rep. Joe Barton said that impeachment was possible. “Well, impeachment is indicting in the House, and that’s a possibility,” said Barton. “But you still have to convict in the Senate, and that takes a two-thirds vote. But impeachment would be a consideration, yes sir.”

But just because Barton is suggesting that impeachment is an option, there is little sign that Republican leadership would go along with it. Leaders in the GOP have argued that the only people in Washington, D.C., talking about impeachment are Democrats, using it as a scare tactic in the lead-up to the midterms to rally voters who supported Obama.

There will be other opportunities for Republicans to show their unhappiness with Obama. Earlier this year, the House Republicans voted to sue the president over how he implemented the Affordable Care Act. House Speaker John Boehner has said if Obama moves forward with immigration executive orders, that could be added to the lawsuit.

But Boehner’s efforts to sue the president have been stymied. Two law firms have now walked away from filing the suit -- the product, Republicans have defended, not of the merits of the suit but because of pressure from Democratic clients to pull their business from the firms.