Herman Cain Touts Jesus as the 'Perfect Conservative'
A 2010 blog post reveals that Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain may have modeled his common sense solutions and charisma for large crowds after "the perfect conservative" – Jesus Christ.
In a Tuesday CNN interview, Cain said fellow candidate Mitt Romney is not a "true conservative." According to his December 2010 Red State blog post, Cain believes that designation is best personified by Jesus Christ.
Although Jesus is not mentioned by name in the essay, Cain, a Baptist, describes the perfect conservative as having lived over 2,000 years ago, having died for "just being who He was" and having millions of followers all over the world.
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Cain's conservative Jesus has many similarities to his own campaign beliefs and behaviors. For starters, the perfect conservative is an anti-government leader who offers common sense solutions.
"He led without a mandate. He taught without a script. His common sense parables filled people with promise and compassion, His words forever inspiring," Cain wrote.
Conservative Jesus was unemployed, yet Jesus never relied on government programs to prop up himself or his community, Cain said.
"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. And everywhere He went, it turned into a rally, attracting large crowds, and giving them hope, encouragement and inspiration," Cain wrote.
In spreading his message of hope to as many people as possible, Cain pointed out that Jesus, much like his current campaign, remained low-keyed, walking, or even traveling by donkey. "He didn't travel by private jet," he summed.
Cain, whose fundraising efforts remain lackluster despite his recent surge in the polls, boasts that his message is winning out over the contender's money.
Cain is not the first presidential candidate to praise the Prince of Prince for his politics.
Bygone presidential candidate Tim Pawlenty said Jesus is his political hero.
Some on the left said politicians who praise Jesus as their political model have a wrong view of Jesus.
Lisa Sharon Harper, director of mobilizing for Sojourners and author of Left, Right & Christ told The Christian Post in a July interview that Jesus would defy political lines to help the vulnerable. She also believes those who espouse Jesus as their political hero should also support entitlement programs that distribute food to the poor and ensure health care for those who cannot afford it.
Progressive group Think Progress disputed Cain's suggestion that Jesus was sentenced to death by a liberal court.
Cain wrote, "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."
The group argued that liberals do not believe in the death penalty.
