Former Treasury official Bruce Bartlett labeled newly-minted Republican presidential candidate Rick Perry "an idiot" Friday.
Bartlett, who served at Treasury under former President George H.W. Bush and as a domestic policy adviser to the late President Ronald Reagan, delivered the choice words to the Texas Gov. in reference to his recent comments about Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke.
"Rick Perry's an idiot, and I don't think anyone would disagree with that," Bartlett said Friday on CNN's "American Morning." :142smilie
Perry sparked controversy when he said Bernanke would be "treasonous" if he printed more money to stimulate the economy before the 2012 election.
"I mean, printing more money to play politics at this particular time in American history is almost treacherous, or treasonous, in my opinion," Perry said Monday in Iowa. He stood by his comments Tuesday.
Bartlett said the politics at the Federal Reserve are a serious problem and in part blamed U.S. presidents, who he said have historically not focused their energies on the bank.
Despite serving in Republican administrations, Bartlett is no stranger to GOP criticism, particularly of former President George W. Bush.
Bartlett's 2006 book "Imposter: How George W. Bush Bankrupted America and Betrayed the Reagan Legacy" accused the administration of departing from conservative economic principles. More recently he attributed the economic recession to the former president and Republican Party.:0008
Team Perry did not immediately respond for a request for comment.
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Karl Rove is NOT the leader of the Republican Party......he just thinks he is!
August 19, 2011 09:04 am at 9:04 am |
Lynda/Minnesota
"More recently he attributed the economic recession to the former president and Republican Party."
Indeed. I'll second that.
August 19, 2011 09:05 am at 9:05 am |
August 19, 2011 09:06 am at 9:06 am |
coy4one
The Republican party is to blame for the economy problems. George W. Bush only worked to make his big business buddies happy and fat, at the cost of millions of Americans. Now the Tea Party and its Republican puppets want to continue the trend. When they say, "No more blank checks for the President," its because they want those blank checks for themselves!! I voted Republican 100% all my life until the GW Bush years. I'm totally convinced that my decision to vote Democrat and Independent since have been the right choices!!
August 19, 2011 09:09 am at 9:09 am |
Rick McDaniel
Sure I would disagree. The Fed has been extending this depression, with bad monetary policy, which just keeps the pain in place, instead of allowing time to solve our problems. Perry knows that, and his comments, while using wrong words, were meant to show that it is time to stop trying to spend our way, out of the problem, which simply isn't possible.
August 19, 2011 09:11 am at 9:11 am |
EdTx
I agree....He's an idiot!
August 19, 2011 09:11 am at 9:11 am |
FM
Yes he is triple idiot. What was he thinking?? Did he think he is running to be the President of Texas???
August 19, 2011 09:11 am at 9:11 am |
Rudy NYC
He said that? Whoa. Does this mean that we are allowed to agree and Gooberner Perry an idiot, too?
August 19, 2011 09:13 am at 9:13 am |
Big Al
Well Rick Perry is an idiot. They are all idiots. The lawmakers in Washington are terrorists destroying our economy.
It's great to know that we are sinking fast.
August 19, 2011 09:18 am at 9:18 am |
derek
Perry, "your evangelical loonies in the south,and your Ceo Buddies, are not going to be enough for you to win Janitor of the White House??? I don,t know if anybody notices, "The evil blackness in this guys eyes??? About the same as "The great White Shark,except a great white is very particular about its "Pray"!!! Perry is going to "Attack anything that moves!!! I,m not going into these waters!!!! No Thanks.
August 19, 2011 09:18 am at 9:18 am |
Ron
The sky is falling, the sky is falling . . . . I just read about a Republican who tells the truth. As a liberal thinking individual, I'm not overly excited about my presidents negotiating strategy. However, when Republicans continue to nominate and support "idiots", (O'Donnell, Engle, Bachman, Palin, and now Perry), there are no options. I'm judging slowly on my president and hope his second term provides more support for working men and women who are hurting the most with the do nothing congress (Remember the 2010 campaign mantra from republicans, JOBS, JOBS, JOBS. Twelve bills passed this republican congress; Half of them naming bridges, and not one bill for jobs.
August 19, 2011 09:20 am at 9:20 am |
Leo
Okay, Perry's academic transcript from Texas A&M college has been released, and his grades alone should put this issue to rest. The man is indeed an idiot, and academically inept. It should be telling that the man failed courses in his own major (he was trying to be a veterinarian... be glad he's not working on your dog), and that he only got a "D" in economics. Seriously! This is the man who wants to dictate major economic decisions for the largest
:SIB :facepalm:
