"Because the idea of American exceptionalism doesn’t extend to Americans being exceptional. If you excelled academically and are able to casually use 690 SAT words then you might as well have the press shoot video of you giving the finger to the Statue of Liberty while the Dixie Chicks sing the University of the Taliban fight song. The people who want English to be the official language of the United States are uncomfortable with their leaders being fluent in it."
—Josiah "Jed" Bartlet (Aaron Sorkin) responding to the question, "When I speak I try to lead with inspiration and aptitude. How is that a liability?"
(This was published back in September as part of a fictional conversation between Barack Obama and Jed Bartlet, written by Aaron Sorkin for Maureen Dowd's column. And I'm only now discovering it. Slow on the uptake. Then again, in my defense, I don't pay attention to Maureen Dowd.)
(Source: commenter 'Frateloder')