(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
RELATED: White House responds to Death Star petition
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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Whoops, army corpsemen is what O said. What a maroon! Sorry, I was distracted by the sound of Ed Schultz' teeth attacking a ham like a buzzsaw.
I am so tired of hearing about economic disparity. My dad immigrated to this country with virtually the clothes on his back and his family. Our first "residence" was a one car garage and he worked hard, learned the language, spent frugally and has acquired wealth well in excess of three million dollars. He earned that money, what right do you have to take more and more to provide charity.
I'm a shop foreman for a middle sized company machining precision components. Try as I might I can't get minorities to come to work for $14.20 per hour, good medical, and educational benefits in our entry level machinist program. They would rather draw "charity" from the government. Meanwhile we are attacked for not "actively" recruiting minorities.
Add to this the 22 years I served my country in the Army only to see my benefits erode faster then the government giveaways. I could even live with that if they would CUT spending!
Bottom line; this president is a showman NOT a leader!
Bottom line...
No more "bread and circuses"; we can't afford them any more!
Balance the budget with reduced spending. The rich already pay more than their share (Note: I said their SHARE, not more money). Close ALL loopholes and hold politicians accountable for what they want to spend be they GOP or DEMOCRATS.
Mr. President... End the posturing and start leading. I voted for you the first time because I felt that we needed new ideas and new "blood" to energize our country. You have sadly disappointed me...
OMG! Thats hilarious! CNN keeps ignoring Obama running around blaming republicans for his plan, but One mistaken Star Trek reference...
I don't believe your bigoted claims about "minorities", and you seem to be trying to take credit for your father's achievements.
No, the rich do not pay more than their share - many pay a lower percentage of their income than I do. Look it up.
How can a bunch of brainless politicians do a mind meld?
@Rudy NYC
Wilson wrote:
It is both entertaining and scary to watch the book "Atlas Shrugged," being brought to life by this administration.
---––
What is scary has been the decades of effort by Republicans to be the progenitors of an economic apartheid in the US
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Read the book or watch the movie. Facts are facts, you always try to argue by changing the subject. I'm starting to think you are one of the paidschills on the CNN blogs.
@ShawnDH
Wilson whined: "It is both entertaining and scary to watch the book "Atlas Shrugged," being brought to life by this administration."
_______________
Yawn. Nobody is interested in your goofy Randian extremism. Grow up.
--------------------------------
Try reading the book or watching the movie, since you obviously are commenting on a subject you know nothing about.
Frankly, the GOP are the Borg. Mindless drones, all striving to be perfect.
Obama should just use the Vulcan neck pinch on Boehner's light saber.
He might like that.
IIn a related story, the President also voiced his concern about his latest Secretary of State nomination Gandalf and Secretary of Education nominee Albus Dumbledore.
-Wilson
@Rudy NYC
Wilson wrote:
It is both entertaining and scary to watch the book "Atlas Shrugged," being brought to life by this administration.
-––
What is scary has been the decades of effort by Republicans to be the progenitors of an economic apartheid in the US
-----------–
Read the book or watch the movie. Facts are facts, you always try to argue by changing the subject. I'm starting to think you are one of the paidschills on the CNN blogs.
************
Read the book in college and laughed at its stupidity and vapid "ideas". I would not waste the money on the movie. Sorry, but your vision of things reads more like Sinclair Lewis: I prefer to read books by real Americans, not hypocrites.
Obama said it best when he said these cuts were dumb. But what can you expect from stubborn Republicans who care next to nothing for average working people. They represent the rich and the entrenched...the rest of us don't matter.
I guess I am a little amazed. I really thought the GOTP had more intelligence then to stand up in front of the entire world and blow their brains out.
Yellin alos aske dwhy he didnt keep Congres sin DC until they g t a deal and he feebly said he wasn't a dictator and he couldn't have the secret sevice bar the doors. This has just proven to me that he is totally, 100% clueless on what it means to be President of the United States and how to be a leader.
Obama is a liar and a fraud.
Glad to see we're getting outraged about what's important, which is not mixing Star Trek and Star Wars. Now if we could only get outraged about governing by throwing America into one made-up crisis after another. But that's America: whine about what's fake while ignoring what's real.
This is ridiculous. A Jedi warrior is all powerful. I'm sure he could do a mind meld, if he had too.
The Republican definition of a leader: 1) someone who lets them do everything they want to do, without question, 2) someone who is so unqualified to be a leader, he surrounds himself with a bunch of Republicans, and lets them make all the decisions (so in this context, George W. Bush was a leader)
The farce is strong with this one…
A Jedi Mind Trick was used on the weak minded.
Vulcan Mind Meld requires Physical Contact.
A Jedi Mind Meld must be how a person influences a weak mind without touching them.
Could Explain the last election.
I thought we had a PRESIDENTIAL election in November, 2012? It appears we have elected a guy who doesn't know how to govern and deal with co-equal branches of government. He thinks negotiating is declaring what you want and then expecting the other people to come to the table to give it to you. Obama thinks he is President of a union and not a government or country.
We definitely need to vet our presidents better in the future. This is an 8 year mistake we may not recover from.
I don't know; maybe try developing some leadership skills? Propaganda, intimidation, and tantrums not working? Skilled diplomacy might be worth a try. Hey, stupid…you were elected president, not dictator.
And this from the guy who took the time off to leave the White House and play golf!!! If a Repub had done that at this time the press would have been all over it.
Is Obama still . . . . campaigning?
And now Obma has to make a paltry $85 billion in cuts, which still leaves the government spending more money this year than last year. The country will be watching you Obama. If you try and make a disaster of this to hurt people, it is you and the Democrat party that will be hurt far worse come 2014.
Releasing illegal detainees was not good first move. I fear you cannot be saved from yourself and your endless drive to punish people, whether they are rich or your political opponents or news channels that don't tow your line. Vindictive presidents are never looked on well in the history books. Do the right thing and act like an adult, and a leader.