It's as if a million Trekkies cried out in terror and were suddenly silenced.
In one of the biggest geek faux pas in recent memory, President Barack Obama used a mixed sci-fi metaphor today while addressing reporters about the budget sequestration that will automatically force drastic budget cuts at midnight.
The President remarked, "I know that this has been some of the conventional wisdom that’s been floating around Washington that somehow, even though most people agree that I’m being reasonable, that most people agree I’m presenting a fair deal, the fact that they don’t take it means that I should somehow, you know, do a Jedi mind meld with these folks and convince them to do what’s right."
And lo, an internet meme was born.
The confusion of mixing up a "Jedi mind trick" from Star Wars with the "Vulcan mind meld" from Star Trek sent Twitter snark engaging at Warp Factor 10. Star Trek Into Darkness screenwriter Damon Lindelof posted "Obama just said 'Jedi Mindmeld.' That sound you heard was Picard face-palming." Meanwhile, Leonard Nimoy, the original Spock from Star Trek, added "Only a Vulcan mind meld will help with this congress. LLAP."
Knowing all too well that the only real way to deal with that kind of social gaffe is to own it quickly, the White House tweeted its own comment, posting "We must bring balance to the Force. #Sequester #JediMindMeld pic.twitter.com/lIZlgavhuR" with the image shown above containing a Star Warsish font followed by a classic Star Trek font. At last, someone besides J.J. Abrams to finally bring Star Wars and Star Trek fans together!
Oh, and the www.whitehouse.gov/jedimindmeld listed at the bottom of the photo? If you click on it, it brings you to the President's plan to avert the sequester and reduce the federal deficit.
Well played, White House. Well played.
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