"I am not a dictator. I'm the president. So, ultimately, if Mitch McConnell or John Boehner say we need to go to catch a plane, I can't have Secret Service block the doorway, right?" He also declared he couldn't perform a "Jedi mind meld" to sway opponents, mixing Star Wars and Star Trek as he reached for a science fiction metaphor.
~ President Obama in remarks on Sequestration Day via Seattle Times
When talking about Republican leaders, Obama said he couldn’t do a “Jedi mind meld” to persuade them into a budget agreement.
Fans were quick to point out that the “Jedi mind trick” comes from Star Wars, while the Vulcan mind meld is a Star Trek reference.
~ CBS Boston
UPDATES:
Only a Vulcan mind meld will help with this congress. LLAP
— Leonard Nimoy (@TheRealNimoy) March 1, 2013
@therealnimoy You are assuming they have minds to meld with. :-)
— Sunfell (@Sunfell) March 1, 2013
“Jedis are the guardians of peace and justice. And mind meld is the Vulcan way of having the force of pure, clean communication between one mind and the another,” Takei said on “The Ed Show” on Friday. “Well, that’s what the president is trying to do–bring those two forces together.”
Takei also compared Republicans with Klingons, recurring villains in the Star Trek franchise, but predicted “the force of the mind meld and the force of Jedi power” will eventually produce the common ground that’ll be required for a resolution.
~ Mr. Sulu on MSNBC's The Ed Show
We must bring balance to the Force. #Sequester #JediMindMeld twitter.com/whitehouse/sta…
— The White House (@whitehouse) March 1, 2013
Obama just confused Star Trek and Star Wars by saying Jedi Mind Meld. I think it's time to impeach.
— Darth Vader (@DepressedDarth) March 1, 2013
@depresseddarth I find your lack of faith disturbing.
— Gideon Rosenblatt (@gideonro) March 2, 2013
"Jedi Mind Meld"?? No reaction from GOP, but Obama is banned for life by Comic Con.
— Paul Myers (@pulmyears) March 1, 2013
#Obama is neither a dictator nor willing to engage in a #jedimindmeld with #GOP leaders. Best. Presser. Ever.
— Shu-Fy H. Pongnon (@shufypongnon) March 1, 2013
#JediMindMeld #NotThePhraseYourLookingFor
— Jason Redmond (@JasonRedmond74) March 1, 2013
A #jedimindmeld is when someone gropes your face to distract you from your money levitating out of your wallet.
— Paul Miller (@psmiller) March 2, 2013
"I love you." "I know, Jim, but that's illogical." #JediMindMeld
— David Corn (@DavidCornDC) March 1, 2013
So much for #Obama being the most divisive president in history. He just united two completely different universes. #jedimindmeld
— Matteo Wyllyamz (@mouselink) March 1, 2013
Guys, it wasn't a mistake. The sequester means we can no longer afford both Star Wars and Star Trek. #jedimindmeld
— Chris Taylor (@FutureBoy) March 1, 2013
Obama concludes press conference: "Live long, prosper, and may the force be with you." #jedimindmeld
— Dave Itzkoff (@ditzkoff) March 1, 2013
Phasers on geek RT @politicalticker#JediMindMeld: May the forced spending cuts be with you -wp.me/p4HKM-19wu
— Jim Acosta (@jimacostacnn) March 1, 2013
