President Obama did not just offend Republicans at today’s sequester press conference–he angered Princess Leia-lovers and Trekkies too. After this morning’s sequestration meeting with congressional leaders at the White House, Obama told the press corps that his powers of persuasion do not include “Jedi mind-meld.” Political commentators on Twitter went wild, mostly because Obama confused the Jedi of Star Wars and the “mind-melds” of Star Trek. The Atlantic wrote that the President shattered his “nerd credibility.” The gaffe, however, has proven to be just as effective as any Jedi mind trick. What what was the press conference about, again?
Transcript:
Most people agree that I’m being reasonable, that most people agree that I’m presenting a fair deal. The fact that they don’t take it, means that I should somehow do a Jedi mind-meld with these folks and convince them to do what’s right. They’re elected. We have a constitutional system of government. The Speaker of the House and the leader of the Senate and all those folks have responsibilities. What I can do is make the best possible case for why we need to do the right thing.
President Obama did not just offend Republicans at today’s sequester press conference–he angered Princess Leia-lovers and Trekkies too. After this morning’s sequestration meeting with congressional leaders at the White House, Obama told the press corps that his powers of persuasion do not include “Jedi mind-meld.” Political commentators on Twitter went wild, mostly because Obama confused the Jedi of Star Wars and the “mind-melds” of Star Trek. The Atlantic wrote that the President shattered his “nerd credibility.” The gaffe, however, has proven to be just as effective as any Jedi mind trick. What what was the press conference about, again?
Transcript:
Most people agree that I’m being reasonable, that most people agree that I’m presenting a fair deal. The fact that they don’t take it, means that I should somehow do a Jedi mind-meld with these folks and convince them to do what’s right. They’re elected. We have a constitutional system of government. The Speaker of the House and the leader of the Senate and all those folks have responsibilities. What I can do is make the best possible case for why we need to do the right thing.