(CNN) - 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.
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.
"He [Obama] has had open seats on the fed almost his entire presidency and I think that this sends a signal that he just doesn't care very much about what the fed does," Bartlett said.
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.
Team Perry did not immediately respond for a request for comment.
From CNN Politics
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Uh oh. Now I guess team Perry is going to ask God to kill Bruce Bartlett for stating the obvious. Of course, if the Perry team's success with praying for rain is any indication, Bartlett will likely live to be a 100.
Now mind you, this is a REPUBLICAN outting Perry for being an idiot! This is a man with no axe to grind. To use Perry`s own words against him, Bartlett is motivated to expose Perry because he LOVES AMERICA and wants to prevent it from the mistake a Rick Perry presidency would be.
My question for Perry is: would he loosen oil exploration regulations in the Gulf of Mexico, as part of his "job creating skillset"? It`s been 1 year since the Deepwater Horizon well rupture was capped by President Obama.
Would Perry have been inclined or able to put BP on the hook for $20B. like Obama?
Well, that pretty much says it then doesn't it...so much for the Eleventh Commandment. Good for him!
What do you know... a republican called it correctly for a change.
People can't claim liberalism on this guy. He worked for Reagan and the elder Bush. So why is it when a Republican criticizes another republican, he gets labeled "liberal"? It is time some republicans take responsibility for the mess we're in. Obama didn't create this mess, but everyone is trying to pin the ENTIRE issue on him. I'm not saying he's done everything right (NO president has including Reagan – BTW who started defecit spending).
Anyway, people might want to listen to what this guy has to say. beware of Rick Perry.
Um, Well
There have been "Idiots" elected President before. I give you Slick Willie. Now, printing more money with nothing to back it up is pretty idioic if you ask me. Maybe helping to get to another depression isn't Treasonis but it isn't smart. As long as the people pass the buck they deserve exactly what they vote for.
Uh oh... no doubt Mr. Bartlett will soon be labeled a traitor by Team Perry.
wow Republicans calling other Republicans idiots...OMG what would Ronald Regan say about THIS???
So not only is he an idiot he also believes his christianity should be manadated. Recently he convened a Christian prayer breakfast only ,for techers before the start of the school year. No other religions allowed. Guess he realized he needed G-d help since he has gutten the school budgets, have "evangelicalized" the text books and Texas now has the privilege of 50% HS DROP OUT RATE.
Call it what it is!
"Rick Perry's an idiot, and I don't think anyone would disagree with that," Bartlett said Friday on CNN's "American Morning."
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thanks for the candid comments Mr Obvious, but you are wrong about people disagreeing.....the sheep and lemmings who belong to the Borg collective will now renounce you as a traitor, RINO, whatever.
In the photo attached to this article he even looks like an idiot.
"He [Obama] has had open seats on the fed almost his entire presidency and I think that this sends a signal that he just doesn't care very much about what the fed does," Bartlett said.
There has been secret republican hold on almost all of Obama's nominations. It’s very dishonest not to make that clarification. This is further evidence of the republicans wish to keep America down for the sake of benefiting them politically. Fact is Bush drove us into a ditch and the republican party wants us to stay there until the next election.
The world know that Rick Perry an Idiot
Pervez Musharraf, wants Rick Perry to run for president so they can play fool around us
"Rick Perry's an idiot, and I don't think anyone would disagree with that," ~ it's nice to see honesty return to the Republican Party. No matter how small a display.
Has anyone asked Perry if Africa is a continent or country yet? (Of course the big oil companies want someone they can manipulate and the less intelligent the better.)
Bottom line: Rick Perry is NOT electable, no matter what the hype machine spews out.
If the Republican Tea Party does not want four more years of Obama, they'll shove this turd underneath the bus and look for someone with a college average above a C to run this country.
This guy is a slap in the face to the intelligence of the citizens of this country. He is the male equivalent of a Palin in terms of how ignorant he is and the equivalent of Bush in terms of how proud he is of his ignorance. There are much better people in the Republican party who should be nominated to represent the party and appeal to moderate America. We may criticize Obama, but whats even more certain is that this guy would be much worse in oh so many ways.
Spot on, Mr. Bartlett. "Idiot" pretty much sums it up. Now, why hasn't God told Perry he's an idiot?
Nailed it, Bruce!!
When is someone in the media going to ask Perry about the 28 Billion dollar budget short fall this year in Texas and how many of the jobs he's bragging about still exist?
Guess what, Perry's an idiot. Those of use who've been paying attention knew that already, but thanks for the validation.
Republican Bruce Bartlett (who served under Bush I and Reagan) is a hero for having the courage to publicly write a book saying the George W. Bush (Bush II) and his Republican cronies bankrupt our country and are responsible for the recession we are in. I have been writing about this on the blogs for several years now. Wake up America, don't vote any more Republicans into Congress or the Presidency. Like FDR, it will take time for Obama to get us out of the mess that the evil Republicans caused.
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.
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let's see...you take the rants of a man who graduated with 2.0 in Animal Science over a former GOP Treasury official? What Bartlett said needs to be heeded by those that are simply trying to whip up partisan fury instead of solving the problem. Bartlett was serving this country at the highest levels when Perry was still trolling for bribes from the petrochem industry while in the TX state legislature: in other words, Perry is a mouthpiece to whomever pays him. He offers no solutions, only attacks for his opponants and tax breaks for the wealthy. He does their bidding: does that sound like a leader or a follower? More to the point, what policies from the Fed have extended the bad economy, and why would they do so, since its an even split of GOP and Democratic appointees? Look at what they ahve done, not what Perry tells you.
No kidding, Sherlock. It does not take a rocket scientist to figure that one out.
Now, I admit what I can't figure out, is the people that support Perry and, hence since he is an idiot, what would you call his supporters?
No not Perry, say it ain't so. But guess what ther are a bunch of yahoos out there who will try to ellect this idiot