The Rick Perry presidential campaign already has its first controversy within the first week of its inception. At a fundraising event Perry was asked about the Federal Reserve. At first Perry declined to comment, but then went on to provide a quote that is causing some to question whether Perry called for acts of violence against Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke. Perry said of Bernanke, “If this guy prints more money between now and the election, I dunno what y’all would do to him in Iowa but we would treat him pretty ugly down in Texas. Printing more money to play politics at this particular time in American history is almost treasonous in my opinion.” Democrats were quick to criticize the remarks, and even Tony Fratto, former Deputy Press Secretary to George W. Bush, called the remarks “inappropriate and unpresidential.”
Perry is referring to the Fed’s practice of “monetary easing” in which the agency uses money to buy financial assets. The policy is meant to lower interest rates, create more liquidity, and stimulate the overall economy. Conservatives believe that the practice could create inflation, though the inflationary rate in America remains well below average. Many economists are actually more concerned about the possibility of deflation than inflation in the current economy.
When Perry says that they would “treat him pretty ugly down in Texas” it seems to be a not-so-subtle reference to Texas extensive use of the death penalty. Under Perry Texas has led the nation by executing 230 individuals. Perry’s claim that Bernanke would be committing “treason” is a very serious one indeed, as the crime of treason carries the maximum penalty of death.
It may be far-fetched to envision President Perry strapping Ben Bernanke in an electric chair. However, Perry has been implicated in multiple controversial death penalty cases as governor of Texas. The most controversial case involved Cameron Todd Williams, who was executed for allegedly killing an 11-year-old girl in an arson fire. After experts later carefully examined the fire, they found that it could not have been caused by arson. When this evidence was just beginning to be considered Perry fired the three members of a commission in charge of reviewing the case. The case has still not been fully reviewed.
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