KALAMAZOO (WKZO) --  Congressman Fred Upton of west Michigan is apparently under fire from some conservative Republicans and talk hosts.  Some say it is an attempt to keep Upton from being named chairman of the House Energy Committee next session.

Wednesday it was Rush Limbaugh and a document being circulated around Capitol Hill that accused Upton of disloyalty to the party.

Now conservative commentator Glenn Beck has gone a step further.

"He wants to be the chair...a Republican...who apparently is all socialist now," Beck said on his radio broadcast Thursday. 

The conservative who wants the chairmanship is Texan Joe Barton, who gained publicity recently when he apologized to BP after the White House and the oil firm agreed to set up a $20 billion claims fund after the Gulf oil spill.

Some congressional watchers believe Barton's time on the committee has run out and Speaker John Boehner likes Upton for the job.

Upton has not commented.