Republican presidential candidate Rick Perry on Sunday criticized the Obama administration for its "over-the-top rhetoric" in condemning a video that appears to show four U.S. Marines urinating on the corpses of Taliban fighters.

(Related: Unless You've Been Shot at by the Taliban 'Shut Your Mouth, War Is Hell': Allen West Weighs in on Urinating Marine Scandal)

Perry said on CNN's "State of the Union" the administration's reaction is indicative of its "disdain for the military."

Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton have both strongly condemned the video, with Panetta calling it "utterly deplorable" and Clinton calling it "absolutely inconsistent with American values." Both said those responsible will be held accountable, according to USA Today.

The Texas governor said the Marines involved "made a mistake" and should be reprimanded for it, but not get hit with criminal charges.

"18, 19-year-old kids make stupid mistakes all too often and that's what's occurred here," Perry said. "To call it a criminal act I think is over the top."

Watch the clip below, via CNN: