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Barack Obama - Narcissist or Merely Narcissistic?
The Global Politician ^ | 13 August 2008 | Sam Vaknin, Ph.D.

Posted on 06/05/2010 10:22:08 AM PDT by Lando Lincoln

Barack Obama appears to be a narcissist. Granted, only a qualified mental health diagnostician (which I am not) can determine whether someone suffers from Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) and this, following lengthy tests and personal interviews. But, in the absence of access to Barack Obama, one has to rely on his overt performance and on testimonies by his closest, nearest and dearest.

Narcissistic leaders are nefarious and their effects pernicious. They are subtle, refined, socially-adept, manipulative, possessed of thespian skills, and convincing. Both types equally lack empathy and are ruthless and relentless or driven.

Perhaps it is time to require each candidate to high office in the USA to submit to a rigorous physical and mental checkup with the results made public.

(Excerpt) Read more at globalpolitician.com ...


TOPICS: Extended News; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: narcissism; narcissist; narcissistic; vaknin
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More of a scholarly assessment...
1 posted on 06/05/2010 10:22:08 AM PDT by Lando Lincoln
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To: Lando Lincoln

Hair splitting, but I think the author has narrowed down the classifications to the appropriate area.


2 posted on 06/05/2010 10:24:20 AM PDT by Mobties (Everything I needed to know about Islam I learned on 9/11)
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To: Lando Lincoln

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2528482/posts

The above is a similar thread on the topic with different references.


3 posted on 06/05/2010 10:25:14 AM PDT by Lando Lincoln (Reconciliation will happen in November.)
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To: Lando Lincoln

This is what I like to call “a distinction without a difference.”


4 posted on 06/05/2010 10:25:21 AM PDT by Xenalyte (Yes, Chef!)
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To: Lando Lincoln

Another Democrat president with a distorted personality. Ho hum.


5 posted on 06/05/2010 10:26:12 AM PDT by Steely Tom (Obama goes on long after the thrill of Obama is gone)
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To: Lando Lincoln

Nobody with NPD “suffers” from NPD.

Those with NPD make everyone else suffer!


6 posted on 06/05/2010 10:29:33 AM PDT by Kansas58
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To: Lando Lincoln

I also take issue with the idea that only someone with “shrink” letters behind their name can make an NPD evaluation.

Those who LIVE with or WORK with a narcissist are FAR more qualified to make that determination, after such victims study the issue a bit.

The simple truth is, their is no cure for any of the personality disorders listed in DSM IV. Therefore, the shrinks are reluctant to make such a diagnosis, since insurance will not pay for any of the visits, after that diagnosis, if those visits are for NPD!


7 posted on 06/05/2010 10:32:18 AM PDT by Kansas58
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To: Lando Lincoln

“They are subtle, refined, socially-adept, manipulative, possessed of thespian skills, and convincing”

So are sociopaths—and they usually have more nefarious ends in mind.


8 posted on 06/05/2010 10:33:58 AM PDT by freeangel ( (free speech is only good until someone else doesn't like what you say))
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To: Kansas58

“Nobody with NPD “suffers” from NPD.
Those with NPD make everyone else suffer!”

I admire you for saying that. It’s like that with people with Borderline PD, everyone says how much the mentally ill person suffers, but the people around them suffer all the more. I remember reading about Munchhausen by proxy psychotics, and it sometimes tends to talk about how it is difficult to treat since the ‘sufferer’ has to admit they have a problem and seek and work with treatment. Go figure, no one ever mentions the people getting victimized by the psychos.


9 posted on 06/05/2010 10:41:27 AM PDT by Niuhuru (The Internet is the digital AIDS; adapting and successfully destroying the MSM host.)
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To: Lando Lincoln

Insane.


10 posted on 06/05/2010 10:41:45 AM PDT by freekitty (Give me back my conservative vote; then find me a real conservative to vote for)
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To: Lando Lincoln
Barack Obama appears to be a narcissist.

No appears here folks. THe guy is clearly a malignant narcissist.

11 posted on 06/05/2010 10:47:06 AM PDT by GOP Poet (Obama is an OLYMPIC failure.)
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To: Niuhuru; Kansas58

EXACTLY!


12 posted on 06/05/2010 10:48:29 AM PDT by GOP Poet (Obama is an OLYMPIC failure.)
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To: Lando Lincoln
In two or six years people will come to a conclusion about that, but can we really answer that question now? As opposed to simply venting opinions?

It's pretty clear already that Obama is at least an ordinary narcissistic politicians. As facts come out about his presidency, it may become impossible not to conclude that he's an even more damaged and dangerous character. But until that evidence piles up, or until something dreadful happens, all you have are people saying what one would expect them to say, based on their own personal points of view.

A couple of things about narcisssists -- having them in power is dangerous, but it may not be dangerous in the way you think. You may expect Hitler or Stalin, but you may simply get a fussy ditherer. And the idea that the narcissist ultimately breaks down when his self-image shatters may not be as relevant to politics as it at first appears.

Every presidency ultimately shatters: politicians make mistakes; voters get sick of them. Perhaps the narcissist's failure may be worse and more destructive, but most presidents are seen as failures by the end of their terms. Even comparatively successful presidents are worn out by the job and lose their bearings in their second terms.

13 posted on 06/05/2010 10:49:16 AM PDT by x
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To: Lando Lincoln

This article has been around for a long time—Dr. Vankin was the first to call it. Some others on the same issue:

America’s Crash Course in Narcissism 101:
http://joytiz.com/2010/americas-crash-course-in-narcissim-101/

Never Laugh at a Narcissist:

http://joytiz.com/2010/never-laugh-at-a-narcissist/

BO Boasts About His Imaginary Humility:

http://joytiz.com/2010/obama-boasts-about-his-imaginary-humility/


14 posted on 06/05/2010 10:51:58 AM PDT by jazminerose
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To: Kansas58

There is a saying that a narcissist will never go for therapy but he will drive at least 4 other people to it.


15 posted on 06/05/2010 10:53:18 AM PDT by jazminerose
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To: Kansas58
Nobody with NPD “suffers” from NPD. Those with NPD make everyone else suffer!

True. That reminds me of a line from the old series, "Dallas". Larry Hagman's character says, "J.R. Ewing doesn't get ulcers; he gives 'em!"

16 posted on 06/05/2010 10:59:53 AM PDT by Pearls Before Swine
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To: jazminerose

“There is a saying that a narcissist will never go for therapy but he will drive at least 4 other people to it.”

Isn’t that the truth.


17 posted on 06/05/2010 11:04:16 AM PDT by Fantasywriter
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To: Fantasywriter

Amen. Until you’ve had to tangle with one, you just don’t get it.


18 posted on 06/05/2010 11:05:32 AM PDT by jazminerose
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To: jazminerose

Is this why the shrinks say they can’t be one-hundred percent positive if Obama is a one-hundred-percent malignant narcissist, but those of us who’ve lived with one know it in our bones? I thought the article was excellent, but why the hesitation? If Obama posted an eighty foot neon sign over the WH flashing ‘Narcissists R Us’ it couldn’t be any clearer.


19 posted on 06/05/2010 11:09:06 AM PDT by Fantasywriter
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To: Lando Lincoln

He is.......


20 posted on 06/05/2010 11:16:46 AM PDT by shield (A wise man's heart is at his RIGHT hand;but a fool's heart at his LEFT. Ecc 10:2)
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