Is Our Candidates Learning?

From a New York Times story on the Huckabee campaign:

His appeal is mainly to people who like the idea of “a man of convictions,” not one who behaves like a conventional, pandering politician. But there are times when even the purest of truth-speakers must bow before the demands of a campaign for the highest office.

"Who is your favorite author?" Aleya Deatsch, 7, of West Des Moines asked Mr. Huckabee in one of those posing-like-a-shopping-mall-Santa moments.

Mr. Huckabee paused, then said his favorite author was Dr. Seuss.

In an interview afterward with the news media, Aleya said she was somewhat surprised. She thought the candidate would be reading at a higher level.

"My favorite author is C. S. Lewis," she said.

No word on whether the candidate prefers One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish or Green Eggs and Ham. Also unreported was his opinion of the dangerously secular How the Grinch Stole Christmas, and how The Lorax informs his environmental policy.

It's too bad that, as many adults do, Huckabee felt the need to talk down to the girl, instead of offering a more honest answer that would have inspired the young reader for the future. He is probably kicking himself that he misjudged her age, and missed the opportunity to name the overtly Christian C. S. Lewis. Still, he could have had a bigger gaffe.

He could have said My Pet Goat.