BET Wire: The Elephants in the Room

Republicans are counting the days until they're in charge.

In Case You Missed It - Republicans leave President Obama scratching his head; Ben Carson kind of blames the spread of measles on immigrants; one lawmaker thinks it's OK if your food service worker doesn't wash his hands after a bathroom break — and more. — Joyce Jones (@BETpolitichick)

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In Case You Missed It - Congressional Democrats reach their lowest point in the polls while Republicans are counting the days until they're in complete control; Rep. Jim Clyburn fears that attempts to impeach President Obama will soon follow; immigration could complicate Loretta Lynch's confirmation process to become attorney general – and more. — Joyce Jones  (@BETpolitichick)

Mark His Words - South Carolina Rep. James Clyburn, the House's third-top Democrat, is predicting that the GOP will abuse its new power to hurt Obama. He believes Republicans will find a reason to introduce an impeachment resolution to put an asterisk next to this first African-American president in the history of the country — "to put an asterisk next to his name when the history books are written," he said on MSNBC's The Ed Show. (Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images)

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Mark His Words - South Carolina Rep. James Clyburn, the House's third-top Democrat, is predicting that the GOP will abuse its new power to hurt Obama. He believes Republicans will find a reason to introduce an impeachment resolution to put an asterisk next to this first African-American president in the history of the country — "to put an asterisk next to his name when the history books are written," he said on MSNBC's The Ed Show. (Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images)

Party Down - Democrats are still bleeding from the midterm elections. Only 36 percent of respondents in a new Gallup poll said they have a favorable view of the Democratic party, a six-percentage-point drop from before the midterms and the lowest rating since Gallup began asking the question in 1992. The GOP has a 42-percent favorability, which is the first time since 2011 that it has been higher than Democrats. (Photo: Yuri Gripas/Landov)

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Party Down - Democrats are still bleeding from the midterm elections. Only 36 percent of respondents in a new Gallup poll said they have a favorable view of the Democratic party, a six-percentage-point drop from before the midterms and the lowest rating since Gallup began asking the question in 1992. The GOP has a 42-percent favorability, which is the first time since 2011 that it has been higher than Democrats. (Photo: Yuri Gripas/Landov)

Double the Fun - North Carolina Rep. Alma Adams officially became the 100th woman in the 113th Congress when she was sworn in by House Speaker John Boehner on Nov. 12. The longtime educator and state representative actually won two elections on Nov. 4: one to complete the term of former Rep. Mel Watts, who stepped down 10 months ago, and her own term, which begins in January, when she'll be sworn in again. (Photo: Gary Cameron/Landov)

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Double the Fun - North Carolina Rep. Alma Adams officially became the 100th woman in the 113th Congress when she was sworn in by House Speaker John Boehner on Nov. 12. The longtime educator and state representative actually won two elections on Nov. 4: one to complete the term of former Rep. Mel Watts, who stepped down 10 months ago, and her own term, which begins in January, when she'll be sworn in again. (Photo: Gary Cameron/Landov)

Do Nothing White House? - With Republicans in control of both chambers of Congress, how much will Obama be able to accomplish, inquiring minds want to know. In a new Pew Research Center survey, nearly 60 percent said he will "accomplish not much or nothing of what he wants to get done.” Just 6 percent said the president will achieve a “great deal” of what he wants done. (Photo: Dennis Brack-Pool/Getty Images)

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Do Nothing White House? - With Republicans in control of both chambers of Congress, how much will Obama be able to accomplish, inquiring minds want to know. In a new Pew Research Center survey, nearly 60 percent said he will "accomplish not much or nothing of what he wants to get done.” Just 6 percent said the president will achieve a “great deal” of what he wants done. (Photo: Dennis Brack-Pool/Getty Images)

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Testing the Waters - Dr. Ben Carson has created a new political action committee called USA First to support conservative policies and candidates. Could it one day support his own candidacy? In an email, Mediaite reports, Carson said he has “decided to answer the call” of participating in electoral politics and the PAC is his "biggest step yet.  (Photo: Laura Segall/Getty Images)

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Too Soon? - Retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson released a documentary titled A Breath of Fresh Air: A New Prescription for America, another sign that he's seriously considering a run for the White House. Some may consider it a rookie political move. Fox News has now ended his contract as a contributor, which means he's losing valuable airtime that could have been used to brand himself for a future campaign. (Photo: Laura Segall/Getty Images)

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If at First You Don't Succeed... - Abigail Fisher is continuing her fight against a rule allowing the use of race as a factor in University of Texas undergraduate admissions. A U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals declined her attorneys' request to overturn a ruling allowing the use of race to promote diversity, so they are now planning to go back to the high court.  (Photo: Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

Not So Fast, Pelosi - House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi recently announced that seniority would be a "consideration" in committee assignments, which has the Congressional Black Caucus on high alert. With seven of their members slated to serve as the ranking Democrat on key committees, they are letting their colleagues know they intend for their seniority to be honored. In a letter to fellow Democrats, Chairwoman Marcia Fudge said, "The seniority system has worked well and should be honored. This has been the historic position of the CBC and we fully support its continuation." (Photo: Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)

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Not So Fast, Pelosi - House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi recently announced that seniority would be a "consideration" in committee assignments, which has the Congressional Black Caucus on high alert. With seven of their members slated to serve as the ranking Democrat on key committees, they are letting their colleagues know they intend for their seniority to be honored. In a letter to fellow Democrats, Chairwoman Marcia Fudge said, "The seniority system has worked well and should be honored. This has been the historic position of the CBC and we fully support its continuation." (Photo: Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)

Defending the Indefensible - Former Mississippi governor Haley Barbour earned some unwanted attention after the midterms when he referred to Obama's policies as "tar babies. He has apologized and State Sen. Kenny Wayne Jones, who heads Mississippi's Legislative Black Caucus, has come to his defense. "The truth of the matter is that any public policy considered controversial is a political tar baby," Jones said in a statement. "Religious freedom, for example, is a political tar baby for Mississippi because when you touch it you get stuck, and the more you struggle with it, the more entangled you get. (Photo: Kenneth Wayne Jones via Twitter)

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Defending the Indefensible - Former Mississippi governor Haley Barbour earned some unwanted attention after the midterms when he referred to Obama's policies as "tar babies. He has apologized and State Sen. Kenny Wayne Jones, who heads Mississippi's Legislative Black Caucus, has come to his defense. "The truth of the matter is that any public policy considered controversial is a political tar baby," Jones said in a statement. "Religious freedom, for example, is a political tar baby for Mississippi because when you touch it you get stuck, and the more you struggle with it, the more entangled you get. (Photo: Kenneth Wayne Jones via Twitter)

Strings Attached - When Obama nominated U.S. attorney Loretta Lynch for U.S. attorney general, Republicans on Capitol Hill said she would get a fair hearing. Now senators are hinting that her confirmation hearing will be turned into a debate over immigration and whether she supports the president's use of executive action. In addition, Boehner is reportedly considering whether to add the hot-button issue to the House's lawsuit against the president. (Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images)

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Strings Attached - When Obama nominated U.S. attorney Loretta Lynch for U.S. attorney general, Republicans on Capitol Hill said she would get a fair hearing. Now senators are hinting that her confirmation hearing will be turned into a debate over immigration and whether she supports the president's use of executive action. In addition, Boehner is reportedly considering whether to add the hot-button issue to the House's lawsuit against the president. (Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images)