(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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Will President Barack Obama "refudiate" his "Jedi Mind Meld" statement?
i dont understand the question by jessica yellin to the president today? is this the type of qustion we should ask to power.i mean the silly banter of the questions lends itself to qustioning this reporters credibilty..
someone should really take away her degree in journlism, if she has one? just so one sided and silly. were is sam donaldsen... not one reporter, a thinks its wrong that this president doesnt have more press conferences. 2.. he just stands up there and gives a lecture for each question. not one reproter challenges this guy. we live in a bizzaro world and this president is treated with kid gloves....
we need an honest assement of this administration and like times not so long ago,jounalist need to grow a pair.not be worried that they wont gwt invited to a whitehouse function.....
jessica yellin .... did little to advance her credibility today... matter of fact turn in your press pass!
Leonard Nimoy as Mr. Spock from Star Trek, an old Vulcan saying–"The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few, or the one." Those pesky little socialist Vulcans. How dare they think you just might be your brothers keeper.
Actually, the current administration reminds me more of Spaceballs.
"What have I done?! My brains are going into my feet!"
"1, 2, 3, 4, 5? That's amazing! I've got the same combination on my luggage!"
Uh, Robert – you *do* know the previous occupant of the office spent two hours a day in the gym as well as spending a record number of days on vacation. How'd you feel about that then?
A great president would have sat down and worked out a compromise. The Reps are trying to save the middle class by stopping the taxation on them. Everyone of you (who are working) already took a 2% hit in January due to Obama. You will be taking another tax hit when you find out you have to pay taxes to purchase health insurance (yea Obamacare). Now they want more – and I can guarantee you – it is not the rich they will be coming after – it is you. thank God for the Republicans and standing their ground on this one. The POTUS got exactly what he asked for. He is to blame for all of it. He has no intention of negotiating anything – just blaming the Reps. He is willing to put our lives at risk to do it.
BTW – Obama's little trip to spend with Tiger Woods – the money that cost us would have saved 341 people from being furloughed. Do you really think he cares? Actions speak louder than words.
The good news for Republicans is that they know what is a Jedi mind trick or a Vulcan mind meld. The bad news for Republicans is that they won't know what hits them in 2014. When you watch Fox News, you don't know that you are losing an election until Election Day.
Obama's response should have been, "Beam me up Scotty, there's no inteligent life down here."
Not even the most fantastic king sci fi dork could possibly prove that Jedi mindmelds don't or couldn't exist.
He blames congress for not solving a problem that was HIS idea? Really?!
You will never do anything related to minds as long as the fanatical republicans that control the house refuse to consider anything but their already failed policies. These policies only work for the richest 5% of the nation, so the economy always tanks when current day republicans are in control.
I wish the media would focus on a the REAL issues with Obama rather on this drivel – especially given that there are so many to choose from!
Ah, but that would mean truthfully criticizing Chairman O, which they keep refusing to do... eventually the chickens will come home to roost... or maybe they are already beginning to...
Our President is a joke. He's divided this country and made us the laughing stock of the world.
A Jedi mind trick so to say.
These are not the cylons you are looking for
When dealing with the Republicans and Tea Party, it's more like Something Wicked This Way Comes.
It is funny inasmuch to hear Republicans (here and in the news) sort of bleat that despite the fact they WROTE the Sequester, and they PASSED it in Congress that somehow Mr. Obama that obviously "tricked" them into it and it really is his fault all this is happening, and he hasn't "lead" them (as if they don't know what is right).
This either demonstrating that Obama is a Jedi (not likely), or that Republicans are simply stupid.
Remember- you can't fix stupid!
What a circus this Administration is. Pathetic.
It is almost a hopeless task trying to negotiate with Klingons, Romulans, or Republicans/Tea Partiers. More effective to deploy Star Ships armed with phasers and photon torpedoes.
The question the reporter asked was, " do you think you are responsible for any of this? " Meaning you blame it all on republicans, should you? This was his answer.
Obama looks more and more ridiculous every passing day. Boehner doesn't look any better. They all look like selfish kids with no adult supervision.
I'd be embarrassed to have a president who knew the particulars of either "Star Trek" or "Star Wars."
This so-called mistake makes me respect President Obama even more.
He's pretty much an idiot. Maybe they do Jedi Mindmelds in the 57th state.
If Barack Obama is any species of Star Trek or Star Wars character, he's a Romulan; he's deceptive, deceitful, conniving, and arrogant.
I thought the White House already said no to the Death Star?