Star Trek: Barack Obama In Vulcan Salute
The blogosphere was abuzz this week with a picture of President Barack Obama with Nichelle Nichols at the White House
The blogosphere was abuzz this week with a picture of President Barack Obama with Nichelle Nichols at the White House. Nichols, who played Lt. Uhura on the 1960s Star Trek series, recently met with the President as part of a celebration of Black History Month. Nichols noted that Obama admitted to her that he was a Trekkie and had a crush on her in the 60s. This was not the Presidents first Star Trek moment. During a 2008 campaign visit to Wyoming, Obama stated: "I grew up on Star Trek. I believe in the final frontier." Perhaps the release of this photo a day or so before First Contact Day, when on April 5th, 2063 Dr. Zefram Cochrane broke the warp speed barrier and made first contact with the Vulcans, was part of a new campaign strategy. Clearly, the President sees a demographic that is yet untapped, Star Trek fans. The Vulcan salute can also serve as a pithy way to promote his agenda. Health care reform that promises to make Americans healthier and his jobs program that pledges economic growth can be summed up by the concise slogan: Live Long and Prosper.