And You're Assuming She Means Narnia

It's always best to tell the truth, rather than to say what you think your listener wants to hear. But politicians are selling every second and, unlike most salesmen, they have a wider field of play in representing just what the product is. A used car is, after all is said and done, still just a used car, and no amount of slick talking can make it into a blimp -- but a favorite book could be anything, and who's to contradict you?

Sometimes, however, you get called out by the most unlikely critics, as Mike Huckabee learned when he decided to talk down to the wrong little girl:

“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.