By Tim Hanrahan
- Associated Press
- President Barack Obama buys a Star Wars pop up book for Press Secretary Robert Gibbs's son Ethan at a book shop in Iowa City, Iowa, in March.
The strained relationship between President Barack Obama and House Republicans inspired a string of colorful remarks from the president Friday, including an errant mixed metaphor that combined two of science fiction's most beloved mental tricks.
Speaking to reporters after a meeting with congressional leaders that yielded no deal to stop the $85 billion in spending cuts that kick in Friday, he said: "You know, sometimes I reflect, you know, is there something else I could do to make these guys — I'm not talking about the leaders now, but maybe some of the House Republican caucus members — not — not paint horns on my head?"
Then, answering a question on why he couldn't just refuse to let Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Speaker John Boehner leave the room until they reached an agreement, he joked: "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?"
The comment about not being a dictator quickly ended up on the front page of the Drudge Report, but his next comment may echo longer, at least in certain circles.
Mr. Obama, in addressing his lack of success at changing lawmakers' minds, said it's not like he can "do a Jedi mind meld with these folks."
Now, Star Trek's Spock was known for the Vulcan mind meld. And the Jedi mind trick from Star Wars was used to great effect by Obi-Wan Kenobi to thwart storm troopers looking for R2D2 and C3PO on Tatooine. But, unfortunately, there is no "Jedi mind meld."
Just like there is no sequester deal, at least not yet.
Related:
Speakeasy: Obama Mixes Star Wars, Star Trek for 'Jedi Mind Meld'
MarketWatch: Obama's 'Jedi mind meld' mixes his sci-fi metaphors
