If the majority do remove him from his post as minority leader on the Energy etc. committee, then some of the wind will be taken out of the Democrats' sails. Otherwise it's a sure sign (so the advertising will say, hopefully) that the GOP in general agrees with him.

"Don't vote the Republicans into a majority in the House, or this man will be the head of the Energy etc. committee. Can we really afford another Deepwater Horizon?"

It won't change the votes of the party faithful, but it could move the swing voters away from the BP-ass-licking Repuglickin's.