Does Barack Obama suffer from "the god complex"?

by Rhonda J Mangus | May 30, 2009 at 10:53 pm

1194 views | 36 Recommendations | 16 comments

In the May issue of Whistleblower, a monthly publication of World Net Daily, experts consider that President Barack Obama may suffer from Narcissistic personality disorder (NPD), also known as "the god complex", a condition psychology and psychiatry recognize as a serious personality disorder.

Indeed, the word "narcissist" is increasingly being applied to America's 44th president. Pulitzer prize-winning columnist and former psychiatrist Charles Krauthammer asks, "Does the narcissism of this man know no bounds?" Jack Kelly, journalist and former high-ranking Reagan administration Pentagon official, says: "The most dangerous thing about having a narcissist in a position of power is his unwillingness – perhaps his inability – to ever admit error. ... Obama acknowledged the troop surge in Iraq has produced dramatic improvements, but said he still would oppose it." Radio giant Rush Limbaugh said of Obama recently: "He's supremely narcissistic … This is all about him. This has nothing to do with the country. It has nothing to do with our way of life. Every aspect of his presidency is about building him up, making him appear to be savior, messiah …"

Is the president of the United States indeed a narcissist, a condition psychology and psychiatry recognize as a serious personality disorder?

"I think it’s critically important, now more than ever, to understand our president’s core beliefs and to realize that if we embrace them fully, we’ll be well on our way to becoming the U.S.S.A.," says Brian Russell, Ph.D., a licensed psychologist, attorney and familiar national television pundit". And according to Lyle H. Rossiter Jr., M.D., a board certified psychiatrist who has diagnosed and treated mental disorders for more than 40 years, it's not just Obama: America's leadership ranks are full of people with serious psychological problems, declaring that "the modern liberal mind, its distorted perceptions and its destructive agenda are the product of disturbed personalities."

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Rhonda J Mangus

at 23:39 on May 30th, 2009

"It's amazing how silent people were about Bush/Cheney's absurdly extreme narcissism,..."

I don't know that this statement is particularly true, nyctuber. I did a related search for stories on former President Bush; here are the results.

Thank you for commenting and reading.

Uwe Paschen

at 01:27 on May 31st, 2009

That would be the last think we need now an American president suffering from NPD. Especially has we face several major Major challenges.

Bush was arrogant and believed in being the tough guy however he was nor suffering from NPD. Would he have been as well then he would still be in power and have declared Marshal Law when he could.

Rhonda J Mangus

at 03:44 on May 31st, 2009

Paschen, thanks for reading, commenting, and for the recommendation. I hope the reader does not take from this article that President Obama has been diagnosed with NPD. It is however believed that he is Narcissistic, like Bush. I doubt the public would ever be apprised of such a diagnosis anyway, if true.

Uwe Paschen

at 04:08 on May 31st, 2009

Good point, I did follow the link, thank you. Well, I suppose we are doomed once more. Maybe not. Hope for the best and brace for the worst. :)

Lets hope the constitution will prevail.

hidflect

at 03:04 on May 31st, 2009

NPD is a bit one dimensional to label Obama. I think he suffers from something I call the "seijin" complex, or Saint complex. People of intelligence and verve set out to be high achievers and help humanity along the way.

This is basically emulating the noble ideal of being saintly in operation but unconsciously fostering their own seed view of patronizing the populace. In the course of doing so, they encounter the situation that most people are inferior to them in intellect (which they suspected anyway) and more venal in empathy/morals to the point that they gradually give up on the idea of "assistance" as it morphs into "the need for guidance".

Ironically their efforts to help end up re-affirming their hidden belief that ordinary people aren't really worthy of help and so they end up even more callous and cynical than the average. I believe Stalin toyed with priesthood which would be a perfect example. Regardless, people like this I've met and made this assumption about are very often doctors, lawyers, psychologists or politicians. Businessmen never seem to suffer this as they are open minded to opportunites and are basic cynics (or more kindly: realists) to start with.

The final state of mind for the "seijin" is one of jadedness as they use their intellect to bend the interpretation of every other person's action to being one of selfish intent. This is like the condition of the thief who trusts no one. Most people's ego cannot accept that the average other person is better than themselves. Thus the thief thinks everyone is out to steal from him, and Barack sees everyone elses actions as being that of an "operator" attempting to further themselves behind a wall of noble-minded rhetoric. If not, then they see the person as a naive simpleton who doesn't understand the "reality" of people. It's a mind-trap.

Rhonda J Mangus

at 03:55 on May 31st, 2009

hidflect, it sounds like a mind-trap:) Thanks for sharing an interesting perspective.

hidflect

at 04:59 on May 31st, 2009

Your welcome. I should note I didn't mean to rebut your post about Obama having a NPD per se. I'm sure the "answer" to his personality is a complex mixture of these ideas. I also feel sure that he truly believes he's doing the right thing and in many cases, he is.

People like myself who often mock performers with overblown egos need to retrack sometimes and remember that it's probably a pre-condition necessary for getting up in front of a hundred thousand people and talking on for an hour.

Rhonda J Mangus

at 07:03 on May 31st, 2009

hidflect, I welcome diverse opinions, did not consider it "mocking", and in light of the fact that I understand their may be those that view them, as Karen indicates, as a "... preoccupation with coverage of any item of criticism or negativity,...". Fortunately, I don't view it this way, and thank you again for sharing your perspective on this matter.

Karen Hatter

at 04:58 on May 31st, 2009

It's not too surprising the Conservative World Net Daily would highlight such an article given its preoccupation with coverage of any item of criticism or negativity, now pondering the President's mental health.

Uwe Paschen

at 21:53 on May 31st, 2009

Karen, I think it is some what obvious that the Republican would pick up on such articles long before the Democrats, that would rather suppress such news.

Same goes the other way around. In the end though hopefully objectivity and truth will win or prevail, however even that is not always the case, unfortunately though.

Rhonda J Mangus

at 07:07 on May 31st, 2009

Karen, your comments are always appreciated. Thank you for reading!

Rhonda J Mangus

at 08:29 on May 31st, 2009

Why thank you, Art de Rivers. A very interesting 'form' indeed that you have chosen as your favorite:)!

big chief (not verified)

at 10:51 on May 31st, 2009

This article could hardly be called journalism. Who are these so called "experts"?

More criticism of a president who has been in office for less than 5 months and is already tackling our big domestic problems as well as problems abroad, such as Iran, North Korea.

Would be really nice to see weak stories like this disappear in favor of real debate on moving our country forward. You can call Obama all the names you want, but at the end of the day he's still the President who was overwhelming elected by the US and he is the one leading this country.

Rhonda J Mangus

at 15:13 on May 31st, 2009

big chief, thank you for reading and commenting. Although your opinion is valued, I would like to suggest that you re-read the article to learn "who these so-called experts are." Thanks!