A Shrink Asks: What's Wrong with Obama?

American Thinker ^ | June 11, 2010 | Robin of Berkeley

[neverdem]

So what is the matter with Obama? Conservatives have been asking this question for some time. I've written a number of articles trying to solve the mystery.  

Even some liberals are starting to wonder. James Carville railed about Obama's blasé attitude after the catastrophic oil spill. The New York Times' Maureen Dowd revamped Obama's "Yes We Can" motto into "Will We Ever?"

The liberal women of the TV show "The View" have expressed sympathy for Michelle Obama's living with a man so out of touch. Peggy Noonan, hardly a vehement Obama foe,  recently pronounced him disconnected. 

Obama's odd mannerisms intrigue a psychotherapist like me. He also presents a serious diagnostic challenge.  

For one, Obama's teleprompter and the men behind the Blackberry keep him well-scripted. We know so little about the facts of his life.

But it's more than just a lack of information. Obama himself is a strange bird. He doesn't fit easily into any diagnostic category.

Many people attribute Obama's oddness to his narcissism. True, Obama has a gargantuan ego, and he is notoriously thin-skinned.

Yet a personality disorder like narcissism does not explain Obama's strangeness: his giggling while being asked about the economy; his continuing a shout-out rather than announcing the Ft. Hood shootings; or his vacations, golfing, partying and fundraising during the calamitous oil spill.

Take also Obama's declaring on the "Today Show" that he wants to know whose ass to kick. Consummate narcissists would never stoop to this vulgar display of adolescent machismo.

Obama is flat when passion is needed; he's aggressive when savvy is required. What's most worrisome is that Obama doesn't even realize that his behavior is inappropriate.

So if it's not just simple narcissism, what is wrong with Obama? Since I've never evaluated him, I can't say for sure. But I can hazard some educated guesses.

If I saw a client as disconnected as him, the first thing I would wonder: Is something wrong with his brain? And I'd consider the following theoretical diagnostic possibilities. 

--Physical problems: There are a multitude of physiological conditions that can cause people to act strangely. For instance: head injuries, endocrine disturbances, epilepsy, and toxic chemical exposure.

It makes me wonder: Did Obama ever have a head injury? His stepfather in Indonesia was purportedly an alcoholic abuser. Was Obama subject to any physical abuse?

-- Drugs and alcohol: Damage to the brain from drugs and alcohol can also cause significant cognitive impairments. Obama once said that there were 57 states -- and didn't correct himself. Memory problems can be caused by both illicit and prescription drug use.

Obama admits to a history of drug use in his youth. Did his usage cause some damage? Does Obama still use? 

--Asperger's Syndrome: Also known as high-functioning autism, Asperger's causes deficits in social skills. A person with Asperger's can't read social cues. Consequently, he can be insensitive and hurtful without even knowing it. 

Could Obama have Asperger's? He might have some mild traits, but certainly not the full-blown disorder. In contrast to Obama, those with Asperger's get fixated on some behavior, like programming computers. Obama lacks this kind of passion and zeal.

--Mental Illness: Obama's family tree is replete with the unbalanced. His maternal great-grandmother committed suicide. His grandfather, Stanley Dunham, was particularly unhinged: He was expelled from high school for punching his principal; named his daughter Stanley because he wanted a boy; and exposed young Barry to not just drunken trash talk, but unrestricted visits with alleged pedophile Frank Marshall Davis (who might or might not be Obama's biological father). Barack Sr. was an abusive, alcoholic bigamist.

Since mental illness runs in the family, does Obama have any signs? Yes and no. No, he is not a schizophrenic babbling about Martians. But there are red flags for some other conditions.

While Obama doesn't appear to hallucinate, he seems to have delusions. His believing he has a Messiah-like special gift smacks of grandiose delusions. His externalizing all blame to conservatives, George W. Bush, or the "racist" bogeyman hints at persecutory delusions. 

Along with a delusional disorder, Obama may fit for a mild psychotic disorder called schizotypal disorder. It may explain some of Obama's oddness. 

People with schizotypal disorder hold bizarre beliefs, are suspicious and paranoid, and have inappropriate and constricted affect. They have few close friends and are socially awkward. A schizotypal is someone like your strange cousin Becky who is addicted to astrology, believes she is psychic, and is the oddball at social gatherings.

Schizotypal Disorder does ring some bells vis-à-vis Obama. One way the diagnosis doesn't fit, however, is that schizotypals are generally harmless, odd ducks. Not so with Obama.

--Trauma: My gut tells me that Obama was seriously traumatized in childhood. His mother disregarded his basic needs, dragged him all over the place, and ultimately abandoned him.

But I think there may be something even more insidious in his family background. While I can't prove it, the degree of Obama's disconnect reminds me of my sexually abused clients.

With serious sexual abuse, the brain chemistry may change. The child dissociates -- that is, disconnects from his being -- in order to cope. Many adult survivors still dissociate, from occasional trances to the most extreme cases of multiple personality disorder.

Apparently, young Barry was left in the care of Communist Frank Marshall Davis, who admitted to molesting a 13-year-old girl. As a teenager, Obama wrote a disturbing poem, "Pop," that evoked images of sexual abuse -- for instance, describing dual amber stains on both his and "Pop's" shorts.

Would trauma explain Obama's disconnect? In many ways, yes. A damaged and unattached child may develop a "false self." To compensate for the enormous deficits in identity and attachment, the child invents his own personality. For Obama, it may have been as a special, gifted person.

Let's return now to my original question: What is wrong with Obama? My guess is a great deal. The answer is complex and likely includes some combination of the above.

Along with the brain issues are personality disorders: narcissism, paranoia, passive-aggressiveness. There's even the possibility of the most destructive character defect of all, an antisocial personality. Untreated abuse can foster antisocial traits, especially among boys.

If my assessment is accurate, what does this mean? 

It means that liberals need to wake up and spit out the Kool-Aid...and that conservatives should put aside differences, band together, and elect as many Republicans as possible.

Because Obama will not change. He will not learn from his mistakes. He will not grow and mature from on-the-job experience. In fact, over time, Obama will likely become a more ferocious version of who he is today. 

Why? Because this is a damaged person. Obama's fate was sealed years ago growing up in his strange and poisonous family. Later on, his empty vessel was filled with the hateful bile of men like Rev. Wright and Bill Ayers. 

Obama will not evolve; he will not rise to the occasion; he will not become the man he was meant to be. This is for one reason and one reason alone:

He is not capable of it.

A frequent AT contributor, Robin is a psychotherapist in Berkeley and a recovering liberal. You can e-mail Robin at robinofberkeley@hotmail.com. She regrets that she may not be able to acknowledge your e-mail.

[Yossarian]

[Yossarian]

OMG - I am watching the video of the miner memorial ceremony, and the raging looks, shuffles, and internal fury building up in Obama - AT A MEMORIAL OF ALL TIMES - is just terrifying.

Nobody, and I mean NOBODY can complain about Richard Nixon after Obama!!

[Gator113]

Exactly.

[Yaelle]

Bingo. Obama suffers from having been abandoned emotionally and physically by both his parents, and left by his commie grandfather with a pedophile because he happened to have dark skin too. He was no doubt sexually abused. Then he admittedly went through a long period of trying on identities.

In the middle of trying to find himself, while adrift without one mentor with Judeo-Christian values, he is discovered by the terrorist, communist, black-patronizing Bill Ayers. Ayers must have absolutely DROOLED at this young, handsome, moldable Obama who already believed the commie precepts. Instead of bombing the White House, Ayers saw Obama as the key to the front door! Ayers and his Muslim, commie friends got Obama all the right positions, education, the great “auto”biography, the marriage to the strong black woman (to cover up for the nights on the DL in Chicago...).

Ayers knew an articulate black man would be magic as a candidate. All of the Muslim and Communist powers that be were dancing with joy when they fixed him up to run. He knew how utterly gullible the American people would be. He was right.

Obama’s fuel is the adoration of the masses. As this fades, I don’t know if anyone knows what might happen within him. However, Bill Clinton still has gushing fans on the left, so Obama may be able to live out his life with enough “love” to keep him going.

[Yaelle]

Good post.

And these broken, desperately needy people are PERFECT for others to manipulate into high office, because they are so desperate for adulation.

We should NEVER, NEVER, NEVER elect emotionally needy people to high office. Period. No Bill Clintons. No Newt Gingriches. NO BARACK OBAMAS!

You want people, as humanly flawed as anyone may be, who are not socially, financially, or emotionally desperate. You want people who have had some success, and who had great, satisfying childhoods, with loving parents, or at least publicly have overcome their rough beginnings and are open about the lessons they have learned along the way.

You want a Ronald Reagan, even a George W. Bush. People who are satisfied within their own skin. They may have flaws, but they aren’t going to destroy the country. And they do not truly need, and sometimes don’t even WANT, the job of President. They just don’t see anyone else decent stepping up to the plate.

Anyone desperately wanting to be President is wrong for the job. Beware the needy!

[Yaelle]

Wow. I watched alongside your comments. Wow.

[aruanan]

We are so screwed because people wanted what was behind Door #2, not realizing that when they opened it they would find only #2.

[MestaMachine]

1. “Its his Muslim faith, totally incompatible with American history, patriotism and loyalty.”
2. “He’s not thin skinned. It’s far more than that. When criticized he wants revenge”

And ALL of his afflictions, including his childhood, are TOTALLY compatible with islam...which is an INFLICTED and degenerative mental illness that corrupts everything it touches. islam seeks its converts amongst the mentally ill and criminally insane.
islam is a drug more addictive and damaging than anything you can snort, inject, or smoke. It is a continuing psychological onslaught that impairs cognitive functions making it nearly impossible to cure. The pathology is both sadistic and masochistic without balance which sets up a behavioural paradox.
It is a “religion” which PROMOTES madness as the norm and revenge as an obligation. islam considers it DIShonorable to NOT seek revenge even for PERCEIVED wrongs.

[Bellflower]

It makes me wonder: Did Obama ever have a head injury?

There are pictures out there of the side of his head appearing to have huge scars.

To compensate for the enormous deficits in identity and attachment, the child invents his own personality.

With Obama it seems to me that he doesn't have very much of a personality at all, invented or otherwise.

[Quix]

Wise strategy, imho.

Sometimes. . . . only sometimes . . .

one can also provoke thought along the lines of . . .

and after your hysterical fit, what will you then do?

And then?

And then?

And then?

until they realize that there may be better alternatives to decompensating wholesale.

Of course, trying to deal rationally with someone skilled at buying into an irrational construction on reality and ‘forcing’ those around them to join them therein . . .

can be a tricky maneuver!

[Quix]

We are all just watching
a slow motion
[globalist pre-meditated,
PLANNED, SCHEDULED, STRATEGIZED,
CALCULATED, DISASTEROUS, CATACLYSMIC,
SUPER-DEADLY AND DESTRUCTIVE]
train wreck
[that will spread globally fairly rapidly].

[Quix]

Do you have a site link instead of an email?

[Quix]

“. . . grave danger”

is putting it extremely mildly, imho.

Though, OThuga is far from in charge.

He HAS been given some very destructive bit parts as long as he’s in his DESIGNATED DESTROYER-IN-PSEUDO-CHIEF position.

[Beckwith]

[Quix]

demonized creepy.

[ObamaMustGo2012]

<< What’s your profession? >>

I’m a professional health care worker, lots of letters after my name...not sure why that’s relevant, unless you’re just trying to set me up to flame me. I’m not a lawyer, if that’s what you’re suspecting...and I’m not gay. In fact, even pushing 60, I’m still a raging heterosexual. Sorry if that disappoints anyone.

Listen, all I’m saying is that on a constitutional level, it is very difficult for me to defend NOT allowing same-sex couples to be married. As long as the government doesn’t try to shove it down the throats (ewww) of religious institutions, I really don’t have a problem with it. I always thought it was a subject that should be settled by the people of each individual state, but going back to my previous Civil War analogy, I have a problem with the concept of slavery which each individual state MIGHT have voted to keep in force. Just because the people want it, it doesn’t mean it’s constitutional. Conservatives like me can’t rage against the lack of constitutionality for programs like welfare, social security, midnight basketball, etc., and then say “to hell with The Constitution” when it doesn’t feel right for us.

I’m as staunch of a conservative as anyone that I know, but I find myself becoming much more libertarian on social issues in my old age. And to continue the Civil War metaphors, to paraphrase President Lincoln, I agree with some of you people all of the time, and few of you people none of the time, but I never agree with all of you people all of the time.

I’m smiling as I write this because something tells me that the feeling is mutual right now.

[Quix]

Agreed . . . demonized . . .

[Quix]

More than a little plausible.

Perhaps God and/or through some patriots will do what’s necessary, at the time . . . and usher him off the world stage and totally out of public life.

[Quix]

Yeah . . . like he’s tired of taking it in the . . .

and is determined to make everyone else take it there.

[Quix]

INDEED.