Economists are divided over the sticky question of whether America should attempt to stimulate its struggling economy with a third bout of quantitative easing. But to Rick Perry, the Texan governor who hopes to become the next president of the United States, the issue is clear – QE3 would be akin to treason.

Perry, a late entry to the race to challenge Barack Obama for the White House, told a gathering in Iowa that it would be disastrous for the Federal Reserve to print more electronic money to fuel another round of asset purchases.

"Printing more money to play politics at this particular time in American history is almost treacherous, or treasonous, in my opinion," said Perry, on his first full day of campaigning for the Republican nomination.

Perry was responding to a question asking what he would do with the Fed if he became president. He initially tried to duck the issue, saying he would "take a pass on the Federal Reserve", before launching a personal attack on Ben Bernanke, the Fed chairman.

"If this guy prints more money between now and the election, I don't know what y'all would do to him in Iowa, but we would treat him pretty ugly down in Texas," said Perry.

Perry's suggestion that Bernanke would come in for some rough treatment if he were to visit the southern state after manipulating the dollar for political reasons were swiftly criticised.

Tony Fratto, former deputy press secretary to George W Bush, described the remarks as "inappropriate and unpresidential". Nouriel Roubini, the economics professor dubbed Dr Doom, also weighed in, tweeting that the "Texan thug" was making "murder threats" against Bernanke.

Quantitative easing involves a central bank creating new electronic money, which is used to buy up corporate and government debt in an effort to lower borrowing costs and keep banks lending. Critics say it adds dangerously to inflation, eroding the value of the nation's currency while fuelling asset bubbles and share price spikes.

America has already conducted two rounds of QE. A third effort has been on the agenda since disappointing GDP data showed that the US economy slowed sharply in the second quarter of 2011.

Several top investors and analysts have predicted that the Fed will embark on QE3 this year, including Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody's Analytics, who said it could happen "in the next couple of months".

However, some of Bernanke's fellow policymakers are opposed to QE3. Richard Fisher, the president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, said last month that investors must be patient rather than simply expecting the Fed to print more money.

Barclays Capital predicted on Monday that Bernanke will not announce any new asset purchasing plans this month.