Karl Rove: Obama Encourages Impeachment Talk to Raise Funds

President Barack Obama is encouraging Republicans to call for his impeachment to "fatten the bank accounts of Democratic fundraising groups," Republican strategist Karl Rove says.

"You have to take your hat off to the cynic-in-chief," Rove said Tuesday on Fox News Channel's "On the Record with Greta Van Susteren."

"The president of the United States sends out his press secretary last week to stir the waters and suggest this is real," Rove said. "How cynical, how pathetic. This man is playing with the American people by suggesting a constitutional crisis where none exists."

Rove also castigated Republicans who he says have fallen for Obama's ploy, saying, "That's what the president wants."

Democrats have been using the impeachment talk from people such as former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin for fundraising. House Speaker John Boehner says no impeachment plans are in the works.

Polls show the public against impeachment by a 2-1 margin.

Rove echoed former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, who said at the National Conservative Student Conference earlier Tuesday that Republicans should not take Obama's bait.

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