Universe Today
On March 1st 2013, President Obama awoke hoards of Star Trek and Star Wars fans when during a press conference he (purposely?) fused a
Jedi Mind Trick
and
Vulcan Mind Meld
into a:
Jedi Mind Meld
. According to
White House transcripts
, President Obama was responding to
CNN's Jessica Yellin's
remark that he should have the leadership to force Congress to accept
a deal
to avert the damaging sequester. President Obama replied to her by first stating that he was not a dictator, and second that he would not use a
Jedi Mind Meld
to coerce Congress into accepting a deal.
For those who are unaware, a
Vulcan Mind Meld
and
Jedi Mind Trick
are indeed different. Two videos are posted below that shed light on that difference. The first video features Spock performing a
Vulcan Mind Meld
(Star Trek), and the second involves Obi-Wan Kenobi inacting a
Jedi Mind Trick
(Star Wars).
Although the pundits initially believed that the President's mixing of terms was a mistake, experts in some quarters now believe that by using a
Jedi Mind Meld
President Obama could simulatenously ascertain both his foes' true intentions and coerce them into accepting a deal. The President may have likewise been contemplating how Congress could be spurred into action, and perhaps thought as a last resort he'd recruit Star Trek and Star Wars fans worldwide to pressure Congress. Toward that end the White House released the following image via their
Twitter feed
, and also launched the website
http://www.wh.gov/jedimindmeld/
:
[caption id="attachment_100438" align="aligncenter" width="406"]
The White House released this image and created the following website (
http://www.wh.gov/jedimindmeld
) to raise awareness of the damaging sequester (image credit:
White House
).[/caption]
However,
Leonard Nimoy
(Spock) has weighed into 'Meld-gate', and advised President Obama to forget about
Jedi Mind Tricks
altogether since, "Only a Vulcan mind meld will help with this congress. Live Long and Prosper.
"
President Obama isn't the only politician who happens to be an avid Star Trek fan. King Abdullah II of Jordan was lucky enough to make a cameo on Star Trek Voyager. Will President Obama be making a cameo in the new
Star Trek film "Into the Darkness"
directed by J. J. Abrams? Incidentally, Abrams will likewise be directing the new
Star Wars: Episode VII movie
. Perhaps the President is on to something?