At the town hall in Schnecksville, Penn., today, President Obama got a rather direct question from a college student.

QUESTION: Mr. Obama, I really appreciate how you’re trying to stimulate the economy to help this country out.  And I was just wondering in LCCC in college we’ve been studying some criminology and I was wondering if — maybe if you checked out some of the statistics about legalizing prostitution, gambling, drugs, and nonviolent crime in order to stimulate some of the economy?  (Laughter.)

THE PRESIDENT:  You know, I have to say this — I appreciate the boldness of your question. (Laughter.)  That will not be my jobs strategy.  (Laughter.) But let me say this.  What year are you in school?

QUESTION:  This is my second year in college.

THE PRESIDENT:  Your second year.  I think, first of all, part of what you’re supposed to do in college is question conventional wisdom.  (Laughter.)  And so you’re doing exactly what you’re supposed to be doing — (laughter) — which is thinking in new ways about things.

(The words do not entirely do it justice. Mediaite has the video up here.) The president went on to change the subject. Read the rest of his answer after the jump.