What would Jesus do?

Mike Huckabee was asked during the YouTube debate what he thought Jesus would do with regard to the death penalty. His answer seemed to play well to viewers, but it highlighted an area that I believe deserves more thoughtful debate. He started with a lengthy answer about the difficult decision he had to make to execute convicted criminals. He ultimately thought there were some crimes that require the kind of deterrence that only the death penalty provides. When Anderson pushed him the answer the actual question, "What would Jesus do?" His response was, "Jesus was to smart to run for public office." The response played well with viewers but I admit I was left disappointed. I would have liked a little more meat to his answer. He did explain well how someone can be pro-life and in favor of the death penalty. Clearly there is a difference, as Huckabee explained, between the killing of children that have received no due process and the executing of people who have been deemed guilty by their peers of horrific crimes. That doesn't settle the question, however.
What would Jesus do? As the only candidate with a theology degree, I would be interested to hear Huckabee's answer. I am speculating here, but I think if pressed Huckabee would acknowledge that Jesus would not have sanctioned the execution of the death penalty even on those who deserve it. Jesus faced the issue directly when he pardoned the woman caught in adultery. This is not as straight forward a prescription as it may seem on the surface. I leave the theological interpretive difficulties aside for the moment. I think it is fair to say, however, that the burden of proof lies with those who think Jesus would personally order capital punishment for any crimes.
Even if we conclude that Jesus would not administer the death penalty, that does not necessarily answer the question of whether or not we should. There are many characteristics of Jesus' ministry that are particular to him. We are not all called to walk around the Middle East in sandals calling tax collectors and fisherman to follow us. "What would Jesus do?" is an important question to ask. It gives a starting point for discussion of what we should do, even though what Jesus would do and what we should do will not always be the same. It is a discussion that needs to take place.
What would Jesus do?