Tea party hero and conservative crackpot Ben Carson told Newsmax's Steve Malsberg that we should stop demonizing Ray Rice because he's a troubled man who just needs some help.

"I'm hopeful that they will get some help for him. Obviously, anyone who would do something like that needs some help,"

"Let's not all jump on the bandwagon of demonizing this guy. He obviously has some real problems," Carson said. "His wife knows that because she subsequently married him."

The Ravens terminated Rice's multimillion-dollar contract just hours after TMZ Sports released a video in which the grid great is seen punching his fiancée, Janay Palmer, in the elevator of an Atlantic City hotel, knocking her out, in an incident that occurred in February. The couple married in March.

In addition, the three-time All-Pro was suspended indefinitely by the National Football League. Despite the violence, for which Rice apologized, the couple later married. Carson pleaded for both to get counseling.

"They both need some help," Carson said. "Rather than just jumping on an impunitive bandwagon [of criticism], let's see if we can get some help for these people."

Compassionate conservatism rears its head at the weirdest times. If Americans need extended unemployment insurance, food stamps or better health care, Teabirchers like Carson freak out and claim they are moochers destroying America because of freedom, but if domestic abusers get caught in the act of violence, they should be given help and pitied. It's beyond baffling.