Rick Santorum Criticizes Rick Perry for Comments on Federal Reserve Policy – Video 8/17/11

Ok, here’s my take…and of course, full disclosure here is that I, as you already know Brian, am a Santorum fan.  Whether Perry’s statement was out of line or not, is not really something that matters all that much to me, but to Santorum, he thought it was. 

Using the word “almost” is just a way of making the statement that you DO think it was treasonous (or that you want your followers to think so) while taking the responsibility of owning the statement away.  Whether everyone else fails to note the “almost” or not is splitting hairs.  He said the word treasonous and I’ve no doubt that he meant it…word “almost” included or not. 

And good for Santorum for sticking by his tweets.  Which is what Santorum is best at…if he says it, he stands by it.  You won’t find him apologizing for his statements once their made.  Few of the other candidates can claim such a trait.

I think Rick Perry knew exactly what he was saying. It was not an off-the-cuff remark, or shooting from the hip. Perry used that one comment to communicate to the GOP base that he is going to be a fighter and not afraid to go right at Obama and those in leadership right now. He also planted doubt in the minds of Americans as to what the Fed is really up to, and that between now and Election Day next year, there could be all kinds of shenanigans pulled to help get Obama re-elected.

The result of his remark got him a lot of criticism, but it drew Obama into an arrogant lecture, which Perry was then able to use to say “actions speak louder than words.” From Perry’s perspective, I would say they are very pleased with the outcome.

I do have a lot of respect for Rick Santorum. He is a strong conservative voice. I think he knows he has to try to take Perry out to have a shot at winning in Iowa. I would expect to see him launch a lot more criticism Perry’s way.