Today in the New York Post, I elaborate on the problem with Rick Perry’s Bernanke comments: It has to do with the first impression Perry is making:

It was a mistake because Perry made news when he didn’t intend to, which is not what a disciplined politician does. It was a mistake because he has people talking not about whether he’s a great guy or a good governor or a fine leader, but arguing over whether he advocated someone’s lynching. So people who aren’t paying close attention — like independent voters, for example — are going to come away with the vague impression that he might be for lynching someone, and people generally don’t like that sort of thing.

You can read the whole thing. Or not. I don’t want to push you.