Perry, et al. and Obama Clash over ... Bernanke

Republican Presidential candidate Rick Perry, who announced his candidacy while the rest of the Republicans were debating in Iowa, today voiced his opinion of Ben Bernanke and Quantitative Easing.

"If this guy prints more money between now and the election," said he, "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 – or treasonous in my opinion."

Michelle Bachmann then reiterated her anti-Fed stance, explaining that, "the Federal Reserve is not subject to transparency. The Federal Reserve has made terrible, grievous errors."

Most interesting is that Ron Paul, who earlier this year grilled Bernanke, and who has been anti-Fed since the days he was a Libertarian, said ... nothing.

White House Press Secretary Jay Carney chastised Perry for his remarks, explaining, "when you’re running for president you have to think about what you’re saying, because your words have greater impact.  We take the independence of the Federal Reserve quite seriously.”  Obama himself was more willing to "cut him some slack."  After all, "he's only been [campaigning for President] for a few days now."

Though this may appear to be an early and relatively minor skirmish within the context of the 2012 Presidential Election, it highlights one of the most significant differences of opinion between all the candidates and political parties, in the role and function of the Federal Reserve.  In the broader perspective, it also touches upon the question regarding the role the federal government should play in assuring economic growth and stability--i.e., should government be proactive, and provide "stimuli" of cash into the economy (with the help of loans by the Fed through printing more money)?  Or should government remain "hands off," and let the free market right itself?  However one answers that question determines how they view the Federal Reserve, Ben Bernanke, and Quantitative Easing.