President Barack Obama has managed to offend fans of two beloved space operas, “Star Trek” and “Star Wars,” in a single statement. While grousing about how the Republicans are not bending the knee and knuckling under, Obama referred to doing something called a “Jedi mind meld,” according to a March 1, 2013 Hot Air piece by Mary Katherine Ham.
Leaving aside the idea that the president believes that the force is with him in the sequester matter, Buzzfeed provides a detailed analysis of the president’s mistake. In summary, what the president meant to say was “Jedi mind trick” which was used to influence the “weak minded” to – for instance – not see the droids they were looking for. Or, in this case, force the Republicans not to see the budget cuts they are looking for.
It is not as if the president is not familiar with “Star Trek.” No less than Leonard Nimoy, who played Spock and did plenty of Vulcan mind melds relates, according to Space.com, that Obama, while still a candidate, gave Nimoy the fingers spread Vulcan hand salute when the two men first met. One wonders if Nimoy is now ready to revoke Obama’s trekkie status now.
How are fans reacting? If the White House petition demanding an apology is any indication, very badly as it turns out. It is lucky for the president that he did not commit this gaffe before the last election. Otherwise he might have turned off two powerful constituencies enough to have lost.
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