THE PRESIDENT:  Now, I have to ask my Republican friends a question here: Do you think that China is cutting back on education?

AUDIENCE:  No!

THE PRESIDENT:  Do you think that South Korea is making it harder for their citizens to get a college education?

AUDIENCE:  No!

THE PRESIDENT:  These countries aren't playing for second place. And let me tell you something, the United States of America doesn't play for second place, either. We play for first place, Wisconsin. We play for first place. (Applause.)

Obama's Speech at the University of Wisconsin [Real Clear Politics]

Interesting, for so many reasons. Just to list a few:

- Does President Obama know how much Koreans hate their educational system, and praise the American educational system?

- Obama is appealing explicitly to American nationalism. Will it hold? Especially on liberal college kids who are more prone to believe that America is supposed to help other countries, not compete against them?

- Obama talks about Korea a lot; not only about education, but also about the auto industry, for example. Does Korea really deserve that status as America's competitor?

Hmmmmmmm.