Is Obama A Sociopath?

Well, that headline, and it is a serious one, believe it or not, is nevertheless guaranteed to fuel my liberal commenters disdain for, ire and rage at, and dismissal of me. How could I possibly resist such a delightful opportunity to invite them all to dance? They being so pretty when they whirl!

But seriously, and as a former psych. student, let me say I'm not entirely convinced of it. The psychological components of any personality all take place on a scale, or axis. We all have various traits, or elements, many of them conflicting, to our personalities. Is this one a sociopath, that one obsessive-compulsive? Surprisingly, the answer is very often, yes!

Take any first year psych survey class and watch the more impressionable students convince themselves they are, or their Mother is, this or that based upon a chapter in some book. But it really is not that simple. The real problem lies in, when is an individual "certifiable"? That's a distinction that is often impossible to make, as even within the field, so-called experts are often likely to disagree. Psychology, and Psychiatry, for that matter, beyond their increasingly medication-based forms and definitions, just ain't all that easy to nail down. It is a soft science, at best, and for decades the trend has been a move toward numbers and so-called quantifiables to reach definitions. Yet, as Stacy McCain recently suggested in a post on economics, people are not numbers, after all.

Or are they? Well, we can't have it both ways. Whatever the case, before you pop off and tell me how deranged "I" am for even suggesting Obama is, indeed a sociopath, at least read the analysis and see what you think. My guess? Many conservatives will be all but certain of it, while liberals will argue that's only because it's they who are nutz!

Yes, and aren't we all, in some ways, shapes or forms? To some degree? No? Yes? Well, liberals are all bat-crap crazy, at least that much even I must concede!

In addition, sociopaths have a greater than normal need for stimulation, which results in their taking frequent social, physical, financial, or legal risks. [CY: Or running for president of the United States after serving just a few months in the Senate and having hardly ever done an honest day's work in one's life.] Characteristically, they can charm others into attempting dangerous ventures with them, and as a group they are known for their pathological lying and conning, and their parasitic relationships with ‘”friends.” Regardless of how educated or highly placed as adults, they may have a history of early behavior problems, sometimes including drug use or recorded juvenile delinquency, and always including a failure to acknowledge responsibility for any problems that occurred.

Comments

[Reaganite Republican]

IMO, Barack Obama is a full-on nut job... and a clinical narcissist.

Tendencies include preoccupation with fantasies of unlimited success, power, omnipotence, brilliance, beauty, or ideal love- harbors a belief that he/she is "special" and unique, control freakery, grandiose self-importance, feeling "above the law", interpersonally exploitive, inability to handle criticism, lack of empathy, arrogant/proud behaviors, surrounds himself with sycophants... sound familiar?

And how else to explain his writing a self-absorbed autobiography when he was still a nobody? Same as fellow narcissists Hitler and Stalin- no surprise there, to the narcissist... no topic is ever as important as one's self.

And what kind of monster mocks the disabled on Jay Leno? I guess we shouldn't be too surprised by Obama's gauche and downright cruel comment, no different than his classless cheap-shot on 92-yr-old Nancy Reagan in his first presser... apparently the Dear Leader's preferred targets are handicapped and the elderly. But narcissists are often callous- even ruthless. They tend to lack empathy and/or a conscience. This is evident in Obama's lack of interest in his own half-brother who lives in poverty in Kenya, or his aunt found living in public housing in Boston.

It's hard to imagine a worse combination in a leader than managerially-inexperienced, delusional narcissist with Bolshevik mentors and weird, vengeful grudges. This guy thinks he's king of the universe, when his resume doesn't qualify him to run a muffler shop.

Obama is a mess- and his insecurities, bad childhood, and irresponsible, far-left-wierdo parents are all OUR problem now, too.

[xerocky]

"It was usually an effective tactic, another one of those tricks I had learned: People were satisfied so long as you were courteous and smiled and made no sudden moves. They were more than satisfied, they were relieved -- such a pleasant surprise to find a well-mannered young black man who didn't seem angry all the time."

Yeah, all my white friends make quick sudden moves that shock me and make me feel defensive and scared, but I put up wiht it cause ther're white and I know down deep that they must be ok because of it. (I'm being sarcastic)
The funny part about the above quote is that it was directed at...his mother. Stanley. (that's his communist mothers name, Stan. Yeah, it's weird. Sorry it is.)
Was he that uncomfortable around his mother that he had to put on this act to keep her from being skittish around his blackness, when she had obviously had sex with his truly black dad already? I got news for ya Barry, I think that Stanley was comfortable around black people.

The question for Barry is, ARE YOU?

[Philip McDaniel]

I haven't read Obama's "Dreams From My Father" but it looks like I should. The more I see of this guy, xerocky, the more uncomfortable I become.

By the way, Dan, thanks for this very relevant post.

[Slide]

"guaranteed to fuel my liberal commenters disdain for, ire and rage at, and dismissal of me."

well, you got this liberal all wrong Danny boy..... I loved your post. I love it when Obama is called a racist. I love it when he is called a Fascist. I love it when he is called a Socialist. I love it when he is called a "white hater". I love it when he is called "puff the magic negro" I love it when his wife is called primate names (so witty the right). So why wouldn't I love it when you call him a sociopath? Hey, didn't all you nuts say that Bill Clinton was a murderer? http://www.slate.com/id/1002023/

you know there just might be some people that disagree with Obama's policies but when they look over and see who his opposition is and what they are saying, well.... you kinda understand why the Republican party is shrinking like Dan's penis after jumping into a cold mountain lake.

So, thank-you Dan Riehl. Thank-you Rush Limbaugh. Thank-you Glenn Beck. Thank-you Ann Coulter. Thank-you Birthers. Thank-you Deathers. And a special shout out to respawn and North Dallas 30

VIVA REVOLUTION TEABAGGERS

[Lala]

More desperation from the left.

[xerocky]

".... you kinda understand why the Republican party is shrinking like Dan's penis after jumping into a cold mountain lake."

Typical Slide response, hasn't a clue how to debate the question at hand so just scream "racist" again and again and again.
Some folks on the right and left say racist, hurtful, ugly things. That point has been established.

But Slide, have you read Dreams of my Father, and do you understand how profoundly screwed up Obama comes across in it? You never address the issue at hand. Obama is profoundly uncomfortable around white people, if you're to take HIS word for it. (Ditto for Michelle, if one bothers to read her college thesis). The question isn't why are Republican's against Obama, (we don't like his policies, or his politics in general). The question is, how utterly out of your mind do you have to be to buy into the meme that this guy is "post racial" ? Clearly, by his OWN ADMISSION, he's ANYTHING BUT. It begs the question, are the political left even basically literate?

[Slide]

"Typical Slide response, hasn't a clue how to debate the question at hand so just scream "racist" again and again and again."

Did I scream racist? I just listed some of the things that have been said about Obama, but you translate that as me screaming racism? You inferred that now didn't you? That must mean that you think the comments i listed showed the person making the comment to be racist. I didn't say anything of the sort in my post. Read it again spunky.

And you make it sound like these things are being said by fringe nutjobs. I agree, but you seem to revere these fringe nutjobs. So to clear things up will you here and now disavow the people I listed above?

How about Glenn Beck? disavow him? Rush? Coulter?

You can't have it both ways.

[xerocky]

I don't listen to Glenn Beck or Rush. I've never quoted them or referenced them. Ann Coulter plays a nut job on TV, but says a lot of right on things in writing. She pulls it off with a sense of humor that either you get or you don't. It's brash, but I understand her point of view, as ugly as it may sound. It's no worse than the president having been influenced by Malcolm X when he said that he wanted to expunge all of the white blood from his veins or something to that effect. At least there is the question that Ann might be kidding. Malcolm X and Obama aren't.

[Ran]

Dan,
I can't speak to the question of Obama's sociopathology. I haven't the expertise, any more than I may suggest which meds any particular liberal loser should be on.

I frame the observation differently: Our American society is unique in world history. It was founded on ideas and beliefs entirely at odds with the Obamas and those who support them.

Liberty requires that one has power over - and responsibility for - one's self only and no other. It is about personal honor and self-interest.

Tyranny requires power over others and the subservience of others: It is an essentially parasitic relationship. It is about what losers can take from achievers - "social" "justice." [Ayn Rand is brilliant on this point.]

If Obama is a certifiable sociopath - or one burdened with significant tendencies, well shazam! He seems hardly unique amongst the crew surrounding him, but that's only this naive viewer's take.

If one looks at "liberal" attempts at destructive transformation, that's another thing altogether. I believe we need to push-back the Statist cancer that is disfiguring and killing the most productive and creative society in history.

[North Dallas Thirty]

The funny part is that Slide thinks people are impressed by his calling black police officers Uncle Toms and Sambos because they refuse to side with the racist Obama and instead with their professional colleagues who they've known and seen in action.

And the even more hilarious part is how Slide goes on about how criticizing Obama is evil and wrong and turns people off -- while he calls Sarah Palin's daughters whores, insists her husband is having incestuous sex with them, and claims Palin faked her pregnancy.

[Ran]

Hey North...
Don't sweat the blanks, man. No real bullets there.

http://www.americanthinker.com/2009/07/caution_trolls_at_work.html

[BlackRedneck]

I've always argued that Barry's a sociopath. After the infamous "race" speech, my friend (white, male, moderate republican) was gushing about what a great speech it was. He was shocked that I didn't listen to it. My response, "the man sat in a church for 20 years listening to a black, racist, lunatic. His actions SHOUT what he is." My friend kept asking "Do you really think Obama hates white people?" I said no and the guy thought he had me in a gotcha moment. "See, even you don't think he's a racist." No, I shot back, "he's a sociopath. he has no feelings either way. He hangs back to see what the proper reaction should be and then mimics those around him. While he would not attack white people himself (he would not sully his hands), he's perfectly content to stand by and watch white people attacked or destroyed. He's worse than the obvious haters because he will justify or rationalize their attacks on white people, etc. He puts a pretty face on the actions of the Sharptons, the Farakhans, and the OJs.

Because Barry has no internal identity as a black man (or anything else), he had to create one in order to advance in Chicago south side politics. So he picked the "authentic" black culture of Rev. Wright, married a dark skinned, angry, militant black woman and proceeded to craft an identity to advance in politics. Barry is not cool or calm during a crisis. He's indifferent. He's weighing the situation to decide what's the most advantageous reaction to get what benefits Barry. The only times he shows true emotion or anger is when he feels personally attacked. After Wright called Barry a typical politician, under the bus he went. It explains his angry obsession with Rush and Fox News. This is how he listens to a 50 minute rant against Americans and doesn't see it as having anything to do with him. Then, he stands up, smiles, and says "Good thing he didn't blame me..."

[xerocky]

BlackRedneck, where have you been all my life? Excellent post!

"This is how he listens to a 50 minute rant against Americans and doesn't see it as having anything to do with him. Then, he stands up, smiles, and says "Good thing he didn't blame me..."

That's exactly what happened with the Ortega speech. A telling quote ""It was 50 minutes long. That's what I thought." ?? Really, that's it? What a deep thinker and steadfast proponent of American values. What an elequent thinker.

[WBestPresidentEver]

Thanks for the post Dan.
You are right on.
Honesty is hard to come by these days.
Have a wonderful weekend !

[Slide]

WbestPresidetEver...... definite reverse troll. And you're getting away with it. Good job, but then again wingnuts are not too bright but still, good job.

[Bob]

Dan, thanks for a particularly amusing post and discussion thread. It's unexpectedly entertaining to read wing nuts holding forth on a subject they know even less about than usual. I think this should become a regular series. Some suggestions for future topics:

"Cruel to be Kind: wing nut public health strategies for the 21st Century"

"A birther explores 11-dimensional string theory"

"Respawn on sex and the female orgasm"

"Winning the White House by Sarah Palin"

"George W. Bush discusses disaster remediation"

"A conservative round-table on fiscal responsibility"

This place could become a virtual Academy of Arts and Sciences, fer chrissakes.

[Twyla]

I don't think he falls into a sociopath catagory . But I do agree he is a text book Narcissist.