(CNN) - If nothing else could bring the Republicans and Democrats to a deal to replace the forced spending cuts, maybe The Force can.
President Barack Obama mixed Star Wars and Star Trek metaphors in response to a question from CNN's Chief White House Correspondent Jessica Yellin in the White House Briefing Room on Friday, saying he didn't have the power to "somehow do a Jedi mind meld with these folks and convince them to do what's right."
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Obama has acknowledged he's a Trekkie, going so far as to invite Nichelle Nichols - the actress who played Lt. Uhura - to the White House.
Here's a photo of Nichelle in the Oval Office meeting w/ Pres Obama last year – a wonderful memory to be sure! twitpic.com/95b6ki—
Nichelle Nichols (@RealNichelle) January 21, 2013
He also said in a 2011 speech at Northern Michigan University after viewing technology teachers use to teach classes online, "I felt like the guy in Star Trek. I was being beamed around across the Upper Peninsula."
The White House tweeted:
We must bring balance to the Force. #Sequester #JediMindMeld http://t.co/lIZlgavhuR—
The White House (@whitehouse) March 01, 2013
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As did the actor who played Spock in Star Trek:
Only a Vulcan mind meld will help with this congress. LLAP—
Leonard Nimoy (@TheRealNimoy) March 01, 2013
David Balser, president of the Star Trek fan association StarFleet, told CNN Friday that "a lot of Star Trek fans are also Star Wars fans" and Obama's mix-up is understandable.
"I think it's great that he's using Star Trek metaphors," Balser said, adding, "It would be great if all the political parties could get together and start to address the concerns of the nation and start to address the issues that are going on."
The official twitter account of Star Wars weighed in.
#JediMindMeld? Come on, it's #JediMindTRICK! #StarWars—
Star Wars (@starwars) March 01, 2013
Republicans responded:
.@WhiteHouse You know who else was supposed to bring 'balance' to the force? #JediMindMeld—
(@NRCC) March 01, 2013
And predictably, the social media sphere reacted:
Jedi Mind Meld won't work on me. http://t.co/EOKmTpOMRu—
Ron Joseph (@TrotlineDesigns) March 01, 2013
Can we get bipartisan agree the "Jedi mind meld" comment is one from which America may never recover.—
Howie Beigelman (@howielb) March 01, 2013
Obama is trying to cut government spending by having some operational capabilities of Star Fleet merge with the Jedi Council. #mehjoke—
O'Keefe Foster (@OEFoster) March 01, 2013
Jedi mind meld? huh? #cmonbro—
John Lash (@Johno_9) March 01, 2013
Jedi this is terrible how can you be president and not be a star wars nut—
george boseman (@cat7912) March 01, 2013
So he admits he's a Sith. RT @syracusedotcom President Obama says he can't 'Jedi mind meld' budget deal ow.ly/ibhtU"—
Chris Maher (@chris__maher) March 01, 2013
Obama concludes press conference: "Live long, prosper, and may the force be with you." #jedimindmeld—
Dave Itzkoff (@ditzkoff) March 01, 2013
So Obama apparently said "Jedi mind meld" today, and Trekkies and Star Wars fans(..ies?) are freaking out because he mixed things up.—
Josh Wingrove (@josh_wingrove) March 01, 2013
Jedi mindmeld? This POTUS of all people should know better. http://t.co/IyM39vUuDC—
Michael Li (@mcpli) March 01, 2013
Obama was my kind of pres, then he said"Jedi mind meld." Mr. Pres you're mixing trek & wars #sequestration #startrek #starwars #jedispock—
Richard Northrup (@ghostofbooberry) March 01, 2013
And some created vanity twitter accounts, like this one:
Just so you know, my birth certificate is from neither Tatooine nor Vulcan. #jedimindmeld—
Obama, Vulcan Jedi (@0bamaVulcanJedi) March 01, 2013
Others said he should be cut some slack, such as Twitter user @grifflion, who posted, "People! Obama has WAY more important things to think about other than a Star Trek or Star Wars analogy. geezuz."
Upset about Obama saying "Jedi mind meld"? I say this as a Trekkie: HE IS THE PRESIDENT. HE DOES NOT HAVE TIME TO WORRY ABOUT MADE-UP STUFF.—
Graeme Stewart (@NuncScio) March 01, 2013
From CNN Politics
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Tax and spend President has shown the American tax payer that he cannot lead, for to lead one has to care , over one's own agenda the people he is serving. It wasn't hard for him to repeal and sign back to 2% payroll tax cut, forcing tax payers to compromise and budget. These sever cuts to defense is something that should not of happen, but then the Democratic Party as a whole , including the Commander in chief, feel I defense isn't necessary for Al-queda is on the so called run. American safety is not appropriate, when they can release thousand of convicted jailed illegals , with out a blink of the eye. We will survive for American as whole are stronger then this administration. The chicken have come home to roust, Mr. President live with it.
Actually I think this mixed metaphor illustrates the fundamental difference in government. Two opposing factions that need to come together. In effect it WOULD be a Jedi Mind-Meld. Though I wouldn't credit either party as being representative of the Federation or the Republic. Well maybe Section 31 and the Sith Empire perhaps...
Republicans blame Obama on everything. Their problem is that their blame game does not work. They don't have credibility, so no one listens to them.
The probem with this goverment isn't the republicans. But it's the Democrats. They want to spend and tax and regulate everything and the other problem is. Obama use's threats as a way to get whan he wants. So I look for the mid term election to be for the Republicans. Because Democrats are pushing for more gun control and restriction on what the American people are allowed to have.
Again just to make it clear republican ignorent posters here,they have to pass the sequester in the senate,congress before the president gets to sign it so don't blame the president because all he wants to do is repay your party for all the obstructionistic,hypocritical,racist crap you've been giving him since his inaugeration and you want him to be fair,are you crazy.Good move Pres.Obama to finally put the last of the nails in the republicans coffin and don't say republicans we haven't warned yah because we happily have,what idiots these republicans are,real hilarious aren't yah!!
It is time for our Commander-in-Chief to actually lead. Blame games are for kids; not for adults who are expected to lead the country. If Obama is unable to work with Congress, then we need a better, smarter, more competent President. Not one who whines all the times! I agree that it was white guilt that resulted in him being elected. What a sad commentary of our times, when people are led by emotions rather than intellect. I wish Obama all the best, but the fact of the matter is he is a weak President whose credibility is at stake.
maybe Luke Skywalker should come down and help with the budget.
Blame JJ Abrams for the term Jedi Mind-Meld, if only he'd stuck to Star Trek and let someone else direct Star Wars, we wouldn't have our Stars crossed. I laugh at all the Trek and Wars dorks...there is bound to be a lot of emo rage for the next decade or two.
Oh, and it's not like it wasn't done before...remember Back to the Future? I'll leave you with this gem, "Last night, Darth Vader came down from Planet Vulcan and told me that if I didn't take Lorraine out, that he'd melt my brain."
This is the dumbest thing the media's been fixated about since "What difference does it make?"
An apt question to ask in this instance.
Lol I cannot stand boring Star Trek, but the spliced Obama-Spock picture under Michael Li's comment is brilliant!!!!
On that note:
Star Wars > Star Trek
............Spock:..........."Captain.............I cannot find any working brain power in these Republicans."
............Captain Kirk:.............."It was evident, do to the constand drooling, and incoherant messages about some black man"..............
I always knew the Republicans were Klingons