Barack Obama’s ego has been busy lately. There are reports that Obama (1) wants to boot Hillary Clinton off the ballot at the Democratic Party convention; (2) has arranged to give his acceptance speech in a nearby stadium, a la John F. Kennedy; and (3) has scheduled himself to give a speech at the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, a la Ronald Reagan. So when will we hear Barack’s first State of the Union Address – - middle of August, or will he put it off until September?
I am ever more convinced that Barack Obama has a strongly narcissistic personality. In addition to the items noted above, since his last debate with Hillary Clinton in May – - the only such occasion when he was asked tough, critical questions – - Obama has avoided all opportunities for debate. This is consistent with Obama’s narcissism – - he thrives on admiration and praise but he is repelled by criticism.
Quick disclaimer: I am not a psychiatrist or psychologist; I know what I know on this topic from personal experience and from self-education; I make observations, not diagnoses.
Now, for an expert source – - the current revision of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-IVR), published by the American Psychiatric Association, gives the criteria for narcissism as any five or more of the following: 1. has a grandiose sense of self-importance; 2. is preoccupied with fantasies of unlimited success, power, brilliance, beauty, or ideal love; 3. believes that he or she is “special” and unique; 4. requires excessive admiration; 5. has a sense of entitlement; 6. is interpersonally exploitative; 7. lacks empathy; 8. is often envious of others or believes others are envious of him or her; and 9. shows arrogant, haughty behaviors or attitudes. While I do not contend that Obama has a personality “disorder,” he does exhibit several of these features.
Two of the major characteristics of the narcissistic personality are “magical thinking” and a pathological need for admiration and praise. Magical thinking enables Obama to believe that he is who he says he is – - thus, he is able to deny any change of position when he changes positions. His need for admiration and praise drives him to perform well before a crowd – - he loves the adoration and works hard to get it. Obama loves the crowd because the crowd loves him; but also, Obama loves the crowd ONLY IF the crowd loves him.
So he tried out his personal vanity-version of the Presidential seal – - but then canned it when it became the focus of criticism. So he weaseled out of his commitment to schedule town hall debates with John McCain, where he would have been subject to critical questions. He controls where he speaks and he controls who is there, if anyone, to ask questions. And he is engaged in grandiose, self-important plans to emulate Reagan in Berlin, to eliminate Hillary from the convention, and to to evoke Kennedy with a stadium-venue acceptance speech.
At some point before November, Barack Obama will have to stand before the cameras and answer some tough questions. If the right questions are asked, the wheels could fly off right before our eyes.
Related posts:
Barack Obama and the Politics of Imagery
Obama’s Campaign of Smoke and Mirrors
Recommended posts:
Brandenburg Gate: Pseudo-Candidates Need Pseudo-Credibility
Video: The Future Emperor Of The World
Change You Can Believe In – - How to completely change positions after the primaries
July 13, 2008 at 7:08 pm
This is a wonderful post..I think all of it fits Obama….as I read through I could picture certain things Obama has done or said..I would like to brush him off my shoulder as he has done to Hillary and others…Thanks for the great post once again.
July 13, 2008 at 8:52 pm
Exhibit some of these features???? He exhibits each one! Which one doesn’t he exhibit? He is narcissistic to the max to the 10th power. He is scary, scary, scary. And he knows nothing. His lies are unbelievable. they are like Bush’s. There are so many one doesn’t know where to begin. I guess they learned well from Karl.
July 13, 2008 at 9:15 pm
30yrdem-not any more & Alibe: Well, when I go through the list, I can’t say for certain there’s a criterion he doesn’t meet, but, on a subject like this, I’d rather give the benefit of the doubt and not be accused of going overboard. I drew some flak for Swiftboat THIS! (http://jay1949.wordpress.com/2008/07/07/swiftboat-this/)
- – so maybe I’m a little sensitive to criticism myself? Uh-oh . . . .
I promise, I’ll go overboard sometime soon- – Jay
July 13, 2008 at 9:19 pm
Jay,
I understand what you are saying..
July 13, 2008 at 9:21 pm
Do you listen to PUMA radio? It is on live now
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/NO-WE-WONT
July 13, 2008 at 9:32 pm
30-Y: Hadn’t heard it before, but I have it on now – - Jay
July 14, 2008 at 12:01 am
Whiner-in-chief Obama seems to score nine for nine re: APA’s list of a narcissist’s psychological attributes.
But Obama’s ego in overdrive? Nope. He passed that threshhold long, long ago.
I think he’s now gone, a la Mel Brooks’ movie “Spaceballs,” even beyond “light speed” to “ludicrous speed.”
July 14, 2008 at 12:52 am
[...] Ego In Overdrive? [...]
July 14, 2008 at 6:09 pm
Personality disorders are notoriously difficult to treat.
July 14, 2008 at 9:37 pm
Note well, I am not diagnosing a “disorder,” but narcissism is one of a cluster of disorders that are considered intractable – - a fancy word for difficult to treat – - because the involve an attenuation of empathy and/or lack of conscience. Persons who are narcissistic, whether or not they qualify for the “disorder” label, have a strong tendency to resist personal change. As most of us tend to become less complex and more our true selves as we age, narcissistic personalities tend to become more markedly so with years. Not a happy prospect, in the circumstances.
July 19, 2008 at 10:13 am
Very well said and i agree, now will this guy become President, because he’s alot like Bush, also if he won’t debate with McCain just how doooes anyone find how weak he is?