We’ve been writing a lot about Herman Cain lately, since he’s pulled ahead of Romney in the polls. As such, we’ve officially arrived at the point in the race when the conversation turns to things the candidates wish they’d never said or written.

One such regrettable comment could be Mr. Cain’s Christmas message from 2010.

Along with the standard season’s greetings, Cain included such gems as:

He helped the poor without one government program. He healed the sick without a government health care system. He feed the hungry without food stamps.

NPR points out that, sure, the modern welfare state didn’t arrive until almost two thousand years after Jesus, but we shouldn’t let that get in the way of an argument that one RedState commenter said: “reeks of political opportunism more than piety.”

Other commentators are scratching their heads over this excerpt from Cain’s speech:

He didn’t have a lawyer, nor did He care about who judged Him.
His judge was a higher power.

The liberal court found Him guilty of false offences and sentenced Him to death, all because He changed the hearts and minds of men with an army of 12.

Any ideas about what made it a “liberal” court?

At any rate, we’re not sure what good is accomplished by fighting over what Jesus’s party affiliation would be today–apart from misguided political support and totally cool religious revivals, of course.

But, if we’re playing that game… we’ll play devil’s advocate, so to speak, and quote a classic from Mark’s gospel:

21 Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

22 At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.

23 Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!”

24 The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, “Children, how hard it is[b] to enter the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”

So what do you think–was Jesus Christ “the perfect conservative”? Was Cain just spreading Christmas cheer? Or was he perhaps spreading something else?