(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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It's Jedi mind trick people!
This guy is not from here.
You will bring captain solo and the Wookie to me.
Gee...I'm so glad I'm no longer a Republican....The energy it takes to defend their actions alone is enormous...
I think Obama did that on purpose so that when some GOP pundit tried to tell him he was mixing Star Wars and Star Trek he could point at them at shout "NERD!"
Jar Jar Binks would make a better President. Barry is starting to make Biden look smart.
MR. Spock would use a Vulcan Mind Meld to pull off a Jedi Mind Trick
Paulwisc,
Seems you don't know the difference between earned income and capital investments or you would know that earned income has three levels and the rich pay the most and capital gains everyone pay the same rate if you invested in stocks held them for a least a year then sell them.
You can't make up stupid.
It was spoken in the spirit of bipartisanship space nerds.
the republicans have been working since 1980 to put middle class workers out of work-middle class is the last thing on the republi cans mind
May the farce be with you.
The WH twitter graphic suggests it was intentional and was a play on bi-partisan. It uses the fonts from both star wars and star trek.
Just another example of Obama trying too hard to be cool by referencing a pop-culture favorite. Next time, he might want to make sure he knows what he's talking about – otherwise, he just looks like the clueless, out-of-touch, elitist he really is. Another case of, "Let them eat cake!"
So he said mind meld instead of mind trick. Must be a very slow news day.
I'm not surprised he messed this one up. He didn't have a teleprompter. Next up, he's going to propose lightphaser control.
It seems that no one has realized the true genius of the Obamas statement in light of the fact that JJ Abrams is now in charge of both movie franchises. Well payed sir. Well played.
Hey guys, childish, partisan bickering aside, if we cant handle a tiny cut like this we are in some serious trouble.
He'll deny ever saying it and libs will continue to worship their king.
Only the republicans would point out a mix up about science fiction worlds as they inhabit a made up world of their own with their own alterantive reality
One cannot fault the President for getting confused, after having to deal with all those highly illogical Republicans.
Funny, the same people who mocked Rubio for just needing a drink of water are now being all defensive about Anikin Spock...errr...Spock Skywalker....ummm...hmmm.
So.....POTUS say's he's not Obi wan or spock too keep the congress locked in Washington and prevent them from going home.
In order to do a mindmelt, one first needs to be a real Jedi, leader and not a liar. To compare himself to a Jedi is the same as people comparing Obama to MLK...both are Galaxies apart!
Obama acts like a 6 year old when he does not get his way and then wonders why he has criticism
Seems to me you don't know how to bring people together on divide them.
Looks like the signs of Germany are knocking at our door just like in the 40's.
Be careful of what you want your government to provide you we could be another third world country very soon.
Obama likes to scare and divide people to look like a savior coming to the rescue when what it really means I will cry until I get my way and blame everyone else but me.