Asking a politician the price of an everyday item is a favourite trick of journalists to prove how out of touch they are. What is the price of a loaf of bread? Or a pint of milk? Invariably the politicians guess and inevitably they are wrong. Latest to be caught out is Jean-Francois Copé, a contender for the nomination for centre right presidential candidate. When asked the price of a pain au chocolat he replied truthfully "I have no idea", but when pressed guessed 10 or 15 centimes. When told the true price* he replied that he never buys them as they are too fattening.
Taglines's sub-editor asked the editor the same question and received the same answer. Any reader who regularly does the shopping will find that their partner generally has no idea of how much everyday things cost. We bet Mme Copé knows what a pain au chocolat costs.
But politicians will continue to fall for these traps. Better to be honest than appear a fool.
* about 1 euro
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