Sam Clovis, an Iowa Republican running for U.S. Senate, thinks the only reason President Obama has not been impeached by the House of Representatives is because he is the nation’s first black president.
“I would say there are people in the House of Representatives right now that would very much like to take the opportunity to start the process,” Clovis said in an interview with the Daily Times Herald. “And I think the reason that they’re not is because they’re concerned about the media.” Clovis clarified that this concern is over Obama being a black president.
“It’s not that what he has done would not rise to the level where it might be impeachable,” he added, explaining that it still is not a “practical, pragmatic issue.” Referencing President Clinton’s impeachment, Clovis said, “Now we have a situation where race is thrown into the cards as well. Whether we like it or not, race is an issue.”
Republicans have often thrown around the threat of impeachment when asked about President Obama’s record, though none have cited race as the obstacle. Reps. Steve Stockman (R-TX), Louie Gohmert (R-TX), Steve King (R-IA), Lamar Smith (R-TX), Blake Farenthold (R-TX), and others all have announced at some point that they want to see Obama impeached for a variety of reasons. Just like Clovis, who did not elaborate as to what Obama would be impeached for, the congressmen rarely specify how they think Obama broke the law.
Clovis is a hard-line conservative favorite: He thinks requiring companies to hire more women and minorities is “insulting and racist” to women and minorities, and he would also like to eliminate any minimum wage and all federal subsidies, which he calls unconstitutional. Clovis has attracted endorsements from groups Citizens United, Eagle Forum, and Gun Owners of America in the six-way race for the Republican nomination.