"you can file this one under you-can't-make-this-shit-up"

[babylonsister]

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2009_12/021256.php

MOST ILLOGICAL.... The Associated Press has run a 1,070-word piece pondering the question, "Is Obama too much like Mr. Spock?" Seriously.

He shows a fascination with science, an all-too deliberate decision-making demeanor, an adherence to logic and some pretty, ahem, prominent ears.

They all add up to a quite logical conclusion, at least for "Star Trek" fans: Barack Obama is Washington's Mr. Spock, the chief science officer for the ship of state.

"I guess it's somewhat unusual for a politician to be so precise, logical, in his thought process," actor Leonard Nimoy, who has portrayed Spock for more than 40 years, told The Associated Press in an e-mail interview. "The comparison to Spock is, in my opinion, a compliment to him and to the character."

Until now.

Obama's Spock-like qualities have started to cause him political problems in real world Washington. Critics see him as too technocratic, too deliberative, too lacking in emotion.

BarbinMD replied, "Yes, you can file this one under you-can't-make-this-shit-up -- the science writer for the Associated Press actually interviewed Leonard Nimoy (and the producer of the latest 'Star Trek' movie) for an article about the President, where he ponders Obama's resemblance to a fictional T.V. character, wonders whether his Vulcan-like ways are causing him political problems in the real world, and tells us that geeks and nerds everywhere are sure that Obama is a trekkie."

In fairness, the piece wasn't all bad. There's an emphasis on the president's fondness for science, and I'm glad to see this get some attention. Obama seems intent on trying to make science "cool again," and it's helpful when the media notices.

But this Obama-Spock association has quickly become tiresome. The screenwriter on the latest "Star Trek" movie said the presidnet "has a Spock-like aura about him: calm in the face of great adversity and looking for a logical middle ground."

Perhaps. But can that be the final word on the subject? It's a tired cliche.

—Steve Benen

[Cha]

1. People make up shit all the time

about President Obama.:)

[Clio the Leo]

2. Better Spock.....

..... than Forrest Gump.

[WCGreen]

3. I'll take Spock

any day over the village idiot from the medieval planet...

[Connie_Corleone]

4. Obama is Spock and Uhura's love child.

It's right there in the latest Star Trek movie.

[donheld]

10. No wonder he has birth certificate problems

[Odin2005]

14. DUzy!!!

[Mr. McD]

5. Reminds me more of Tuvok

[murray hill farm]

6. I think I will file it under....

most-of-humanity-is-insane.

[silverweb]

7. Works for me!

My admiration for Spock is boundless and our President's similarities to him are all good, in my view.

I've loved the analogy since I first heard of it, and even have a small collection of pictures related to it:



Live long and prosper, Mr. President!

[uponit7771]

8. I'll take Tuvok or Spock any day for real...

[HughMoran]

9. Fake Trekky fool - should have said Tuvok FTW!

Classic fail.

[Life Long Dem]

11. Sounds logical to me.

:spray:

[snake in the grass]

12. saved for later

[Odin2005]

13. Spock-like is a BAD thing?

[Hassin Bin Sober]

15. No shit. The last guy was Richard Speck-like.

[marshall]

16. I do see a similarity in the speech pattern

A clipped flat tone with an aversion for contractions. Maybe Nimoy modeled his speech on a Chicago pattern that Obama adopted.

[FrenchieCat]

17. I'll take Spock or Obama next to me in a foxhole anyday......

over just about anyone.

[ClarkUSA]

18. This article was written by a Trekkie for Trekkies and the comparison is meaningful for them.

Of course, the MSM can't get enough of Pres. Obama, good or bad, because he sells copy and gets ratings.