BEDFORD, New Hampshire – Republican presidential candidate Rick Perry has called for more transparency from the Federal Reserve to show that the US central bank was not engaging in unspecified “improper” actions.
Under Fed chairman Ben Bernanke, the central bank has embarked on one of the most extended periods of cheap money in US history in an effort to stimulate the economy. The Fed however has been criticised by many for opaque decision-making concerning monetary policy.
“They should open their books up they should be transparent so that the people of the United States know what they are doing,” the Texas governor said yesterday at a packed breakfast meeting in New Hampshire.
It was a fresh attack from Mr Perry, who created a stir on Monday when he said he would consider it “treasonous” if Mr Bernanke “prints more money between now and the election” in November 2012.
The tone, in comments made to a non-partisan business audience, was not as harsh on this occasion. “I got in trouble talking about the Federal Reserve yesterday,” he said. “I got lectured about that.”
The White House denounced Mr Perry on Tuesday for threatening remarks towards Mr Bernanke that represented some of the most inflammatory rhetoric of the 2012 election campaign so far.
Mr Perry had said Texans would treat the Fed chairman “pretty ugly” if more money was printed ahead of the presidential election next year.
“I certainly think threatening the Fed chairman is not a good idea,” White House spokesman Jay Carney said while on the campaign trail with Mr Obama in Iowa.
“When you are president or running for president, you have to think about your words.”
Responding to criticism, the Fed has taken several moves to make its actions more open. Mr Bernanke has held press conferences for the first time.
Karl Rove, a Texan who was former president George W Bush’s long-time political adviser, chided Mr Perry for “a very unfortunate comment”.
In an interview on Fox News on Tuesday, Mr Rove said that Mr Perry “is going to have to fight the impression that he’s a cowboy from Texas. This simply added to it.” – (Reuters)