Catherine is being brought up in a political household. We often have conversations about the upcoming election at the dinner table and, although her contributions right now are “I don’t like peas” and “Are you done with your chicken, mama?”, I know some of the information is seeping into her brain.

She recognizes Barack Obama and often calls out “Obama!” when she sees him on the TV. However, we had a weird moment while waiting in line at Food Lion last week. She pointed to a magazine with Obama on the cover (not hard to find) and yelled, “Daddy!”

Barack Obama and Nathan both have dark hair and winning smiles, and both wear suits often, but that’s as far as the shared physical traits go. When Catherine was younger, she would often call out “Dada” to random males who walked by us in public (made for a few awkward moments). However, she is nearly 2 1/2 years old and she certainly can recognize her daddy out of a crowd. So, what explains this mistaken ID?

1. She didn’t have a nap that day, which is unfortunately becoming all too common. Her eyes were blurry and her mind wasn’t clear. So, a lack of focus is understandable.

2. Obama really is her father. Now that would make for a great magazine cover — Obama Sires Love Child With One Half of Dynamic Conservative Blogging Duo. You think Reverend Wright was controversial?? Just wait.

3. Catherine is more politically astute than we ever imagined. She gets the fact that Obama wants to be our “daddy”. He wants to take our money because we can’t be trusted with financial decisions — we might spend it all on ice cream! He wants to help us get a job and give us a place to live. He is going to set some rules — what kind of car you can drive, the temperature at which you can set your thermostat, where you can go to school and all of those other issues about which parents will nag their children. He loves us, and because he loves us he will require our obedience so that he can guide us in the right direction.

OK, let’s rule out number two right now. I haven’t even dated a liberal since 1999. I have no doubt that Senator Obama is in love with, and loyal to, his fist-bumping life mate. While Catherine’s comment raised the eyebrow of the woman buying milk and cigarettes in front of me, I only had the mature response of, “Catherine, that’s not your daddy! Eewww! He wants to destroy the founding principles about which America was built and take away our freedoms. I wouldn’t let him be your daddy.” The woman then raised her other eyebrow, frowned at me, and turned back to the cashier.

Number one is the most likely option, but I prefer to believe the last scenario. I like the idea of my daughter providing preschool political commentary.