CAMPAIGN 2012

McDonnell, Rove Criticize Perry for Suggesting Fed is Almost 'Treasonous' -- VIDEO

Updated: August 16, 2011 | 2:59 p.m.
August 16, 2011 | 2:27 p.m.

At a campaign stop in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on Monday, Texas Gov. Rick Perry continued his criticism of the Obama administration's economic policies, the New York Times reports. Shooting off the hip, Perry said: "Printing more money to play politics at this particular time in American history is almost treacherous — or treasonous in my opinion."

While the Republican presidential candidate didn't mention Federal Reserve Chairman by name, it was clear who he was talking about when he went on to say, "I know there's a lot of talk and what have you about if this guy prints more money between now and the election." Perry continued, "I don't know what y'all would do to him in Iowa, but we would treat him pretty ugly down in Texas."

Watch his remarks:

Republican party influentials criticized the tone of Perry's off-the-cuff remarks on Tuesday.

Real Clear Politics reports that Karl Rove told Fox News: "It's his first time on the national stage, and it was a very unfortunate comment. You don't accuse the chairman of the federal reserve of being a traitor to his country and being guilty of treason and suggesting that we treat him pretty ugly in Texas -- that's not, again, a presidential statement."

And Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell (R) told MSNBC, "I might have said it a little bit differently, but listen, Gov. Perry is just brand new into the race."

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