Evan McMorris-Santoro August 20, 2011, 3:26 PM

ROCK HILL, SC — Texas Gov. Rick Perry responded to his Washington critics here Saturday in a way that could make you wonder if those critics are actually playing for Team Perry.

On Friday, Politico reported on the concerns of some Republicans in Congress that Perry’s Texas-style rhetoric on the presidential campaign trail is perhaps a little too Texas.

Speaking to reporters today, Perry responded by essentially saying he doesn’t give a rip about what those Washington fat cats have to say about him. It was a move so slick that Perry could have scripted it.

Here’s what the nervous Republican members told Politico:

House Republicans from heavily suburban districts were particularly uneasy about the Bernanke remark and Perry’s refusal to say whether President Barack Obama is a patriot. These members, some of them facing potentially tough reelection campaigns next year, urged the White House hopeful to stick to core issues of jobs and spending.

Here’s what Perry had to say to that Saturday:

“I’m sorry if I offended a congressman,” he said to a reporter’s question about the article. “But the fact of the matter is I’m representing the American people out here.”

“And the American people are really concerned and scared,” Perry said. “Small businessmen and women are frightened about the monetary policy or the lack thereof with this administration.”

Using worried members of Congress to telegraph the widespread — and outside the beltway — criticism of his biggest campaign faux pas so far into an argument about how Washington just doesn’t get it? Let’s just say it’s too bad for Team Perry that his response is too long for a bumpersticker.

2012 Presidential Primaries, 2012 elections, Ben Bernanke, Rick Perry