'I don't think the republic can take it, Captain!'

The Oregonian: Where no congressman has gone before
If David Wu tires of the congressman gig, he might have a second career lecturing at Star Trek conventions.

Reaction is flying in from across the galaxy to the Oregon Democrat's comparison of the Bush administration to Klingons on the House floor this week.

Wu's one-minute speech opposing Bush's plans for Iraq is making the rounds on the Internet, lauded by Star Trek fans but causing Rush Limbaugh to blast Wu as an "idiot Democrat" and conservative bloggers to call him less printable names.

"What's been said of me is that I've always had the lowest profile in the Oregon delegation," Wu said in an interview Friday. "You know what? This is not the way that I would have chosen to raise my profile."

Wu said his speech referred to "Rise of the Vulcans," a book about the influence of neoconservatives on President Bush's war policy.

"Right after I said it, I kind of had a notion that maybe it wasn't going to be understood in the way that I meant it," Wu said.

"Maybe not everybody read 'Rise of the Vulcans.' "

Wu, who Thursday was named chairman of the technology and innovation subcommittee of the House Science and Technology Committee, (Look for a sharp increase in warp drive research funding in the next fiscal year. - F.G.) said he has long been a Star Trek fan. He admitted Friday that while recovering from a recent back injury, he watched "a whole basket of Star Trek tapes" lent to him by a neighbor.

Which Star Trek series or movie is his favorite?

"I watch them all," Wu said. "A terrible confession."

Not as terrible as being a pinhead, Citizen Wu.

Wu said his Wednesday speech was made out of frustration with how the Bush administration is handling its plans to increase troops in Iraq.

"Sometimes, even a congressman, when you get frustrated, you fall back on those things that are kind of familiar, comfortable," Wu said.

If you think this nonsense could not get worse, read on.

Although the reference to Star Trek went over poorly with Limbaugh and some Bush supporters, it worked for Judith Barad, a philosophy professor at Indiana State University and author of the book "The Ethics of Star Trek."

That's right, kiddies, prepare to be scolded by some insane cow who works at Larry Bird 's alma mater.

"It might sound silly to people who loathe Star Trek or are indifferent to it, but I do think science fiction is a good way for society to get a better perspective and to learn what to do in a moral predicament," Barad said. "We could see the role of leaders reflected in Star Trek characters."

While Barad said she is glad Wu brought Star Trek into the Iraq debate, she noted that "Klingons look out for each other, and it certainly doesn't seem like the president is looking out for our troops." Instead, she corrected, Wu should have compared the Bush administration to the Cardassians, who occupied the planet Bajor and "were not as concerned with honor as the Klingons were."

Oy vey! It sounds like even Ward Churchill could date this fool if he wanted.

Wu actually made a few distinctions in his speech between the White House and Star Trek characters. Wu noted that the White House advisers are ideologues, unlike Vulcans, "who made their decisions based on logic and fact." Wu then warned that there are Klingons in the White House. But unlike real Klingons, Wu said, those in the White House "have never fought a battle of their own."

Wu concluded: "Don't let faux Klingons send real Americans to war."

Wu spokeswoman Jillian Schoene said his office quickly received about 20 calls from supportive Trekkers (Trekkies, apparently, is offensive to some enthusiasts).

Republicans are less enthusiastic about Wu's comparison.
Oregon's Republican National Committeewoman June Hartley called Wu's remarks "very juvenile."

You think?

While Hartley said she enjoys Star Trek, "I know fantasy when I see it, and I know real life when I see it. I certainly wouldn't compare the president's plans with anything in Star Trek."

Wu said he takes the war "deadly seriously." (Sorry, but we only have Cindy Lou Wu 's rhetoric as a measure of seriousness. No seriousness - or higher brain function - has yet been detected by my tricorder. - F. G.) He began speaking out against a potential increase in troops last month, as soon as he heard about it.

Still, the congressman has more to be concerned about than what Republicans think. Wu said his wife doesn't share his Star Trek enthusiasm -- "It drives her nuts" -- and she has been away on a family vacation since before his Star Trek speech.

"I don't know how I'm going to break the news to her," Wu said.
"Oh my gosh. I'm a little concerned about that. She is going to say, 'I told you so.' "