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.

[Grampa Dave]

Information about Gonorrhea Lectim

The Center for Disease Control has issued a warning about a new virulent strain of this old disease. The disease is called Gonorrhea Lectim. It’s pronounced “Gonna re-elect ‘em,” and it is a terrible obamanation.

The disease is contracted through dangerous and high risk behavior involving putting your cranium up your rectum. Many victims contracted it in 2008...but now most people, after having been infected for the past 1-2 years, are starting to realize how destructive this sickness is.

It’s sad because Gonorrhea Lectim is easily cured with a new drug just coming on the market called Votemout. It’s pronounced “Vote em out.” You take the first dose in 2010 and the second dose in

2012 and simply don’t engage in such behavior again; otherwise, or Gonorrhea Lectim could become permanent and eventually wipe out all life as we know it.

Several states are already on top of this, like Virginia

and New Jersey , and apparently now Massachusetts , with many more seeing the writing on the wall.

Please pass this important message on to all those bright folk you really care about.

[Diamond]

The pre-written speeches intentionally use NLP, why off TelePrompter he seems so different. Very disturbing. All about control.

Yes Yes. Yes, all about control. And yes, very disturbing.

Cordially,

[opentalk]

Obama is just a puppet. I think most FReepers agree. “Who IS the man behind the curtain” so to speak?

Is seems like a very powerful group, given they have been able to keep his background hidden. His network of advisors seem to be about control and manipulation.

Soros and Brzezinski
His mentor, Zbigniew Brzezinski, was Jimmy Carter's National Security Advisor, Brzezinski was at Columbia University. Any information about Columbia is kept hidden.

[caww]

iSLAM.........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.

Accurate description 0f islam Mesta, par excellant!

[rockinqsranch]

“Any information about Columbia is kept hidden.”

Writing the rules for Globalization Tri Lateral Brzezinski. Good point.

[Windflier]

Thanks for posting that. This particular picture of Zero was taken soon after he was sworn in.

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, and this one certainly qualifies. Instead of wasting more column inches, I'll simply re-post it.

[Windflier]

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.

It wouldn't be the first time that an inner circle took it upon themselves to rid their nation and the world of a dangerous dictator.

See: Caesar

[Quix]

Soberingly true.

[Windflier]

There is always one witness to every massacre and eventually someone will expose the truth of what is going on in “our” White House.

I just hope that "fly on the wall" exposes what's going on in the White House while it can do some good, rather than writing a tell-all book when there's little danger of political repercussions.

The closest I've seen to this sort of courage in the Obama regime was displayed by Judd Gregg, when he got on the inside, didn't like what he saw, and backed out of accepting a presidential appointment from Zero.

[Niteflyr]

Have you decided which part of that spectrum Obama is in?

Inappropriate behavior is a hallmark of the borderline ..(I know it well...was married to one)..but borderline and histrionic personality disorder is more common among females. If you ask me Barry is a little light in the loafers so I'd go with that diagnosis...

[Natural Born 54]

Sorry you had a personal frame of reference on this but thanks for the answer.

[little jeremiah]

Tahnks for the closeup, Beckwith.

Windflier, what do you think from this closeup?

[little jeremiah]

Hmm - maybe start a thread on that one!

[little jeremiah]

Remember that article by a Danish psychologist whose job is counseling men in prison? For decades, IIRC.

His assessment of Muslims is exactly in line with your comments.

[mojitojoe]

His dark side first emerged when he was debating Hillary and she criticized him. That’s the first time I saw that seething anger in his eyes. Once he won, he had a happy period, but it didn’t last long, until around May of 2009. The evil eyes have been persistent in one area, since day one. That is when he has to salute as he embarks or disembarks Marine1 or AF1. For some reason, that really pisses him off. He also showed his evil side a lot during the health care issue. He is really showing it now. He’s in a bit of a meltdown right now. All we can hope for is that he can’t control it and lets everyone see it.

[Cobra64]

Poor hair brushing in sepearate instances? I don’t think so.

[Candor7]

Is he on qualudes? Looks it.

[Candor7]

The Democrats have gone stark raving mad. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

The Democrats have gone stark raving fascist. Thats a big "rut roh" problem. Few in our country know it yet.

[240B]

My first glance was, and this is just a guess, hangover, Percocet, or Vicodin.

But again, it is just a feeling from my military background. I would have had him tested if he showed up to me like that.

But of course while a privateE1 has to go through drug testing and security screening regularly, our beloved Congress and Executive branch have conveniently exempted themselves from this requirement. It is a travesty.

It is the definition of absurd.

[Candor7]

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.>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

The constitution does not mention sex, marriage or homo sexuality, at east the last time I read it last week. Has Obama changed it already?