We’re not necessarily taking any sides in the controversial census poster with the big JESUS label.  We’re just wondering why anyone would be surprised at the controversy.

Exhibit A is a poster being distributed by the National Association of Latino Elected Officials (NALEO), that reads “This is how Jesus was Born: Joseph and Mary Participated in the Census.”  NALEO is one of many partners to the U.S. Census helping them increase participation in 2010.

If the large font and “in your face” JESUS isn’t sufficient to get your Christian attention then there’s the silhouette of the holy family walking down a hill toward the star of Bethlehem.

The message is clear.  If the Virgin Mother and Joseph were obedient to the despicable, tyrannical Ceasar theleast you can do is answer a few questions from a humble census worker making minimum wage.

Apparently some Hispanic evangelicals are not amused.

Shawn Wood of the Examiner.com writes that Rev. Miguel Rivera, chairman of the National Coalition of Latino Clergy and Christian Leaders, claims invoking the name of Jesus to promote the 2010 Census is “blasphemous” and “violates the concept of separation of church and state.”

Perhaps being more in the holiday spirit the Washington Post writers characterize the  reactions to the poster as “mixed.”

We suspect that the whole kerfuffle is wrangling between Democrats and Republicans on who gets the inside track on the predominantly Catholic (and growing evangelical!) Hispanic vote.

But we wonder why (whether?) folks at NALEO didn’t anticipate the uproar.

What if …

The Centers for Disease Control’s campaign on obesity featured a picture of Buddha.  “Yeah, he was smart, but would anyone really want to date him?”

The State Department launches a campaign targeted to Arabs featuring the image of Mohammad.  “Last we checked, he never blew himself up.”

The Environmental Protection Agency’s campaign on climate change with a figure of Moses and the likeness of Al Gore.  “The pharaoh didn’t listen then and you know what happened … we better listen now.”

Would the Forest Service entertain replacing Smokey the Bear with Joan of Arc?

But enough about us.

What is your government campaign featuring a spiritual, religious, or otherwise culturally sensitive icon?

We’ll announce a winner and prize later.