Barack Obama and Malignant Narcissism
By • 4/18/08I’ve been delayed in my reaction to “Bittergate” because more pressing subjects arose. Nevertheless, Obama’s gaffe touches on a topic that is fundamental to this site: the class basis of liberalism, or, as I call it, leukophobia.
Obama’s words were plainly directed against the white working-class:
You go into these small towns in Pennsylvania and, like a lot of small towns in the Midwest, the jobs have been gone now for 25 years and nothing’s replaced them. And they fell through the Clinton administration, and the Bush administration, and each successive administration has said that somehow these communities are gonna regenerate and they have not. And it’s not surprising then they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy toward people who aren’t like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations.
I’ve argued in several articles that leukophobia is so strong in our culture because it is essential to the identity of the American upper class. The elites slander the white majority so that their own superior openness and tolerance will shine more brightly by comparison. The slander consists of highlighting and exaggerating the closed-mindedness, xenophobia, racism, and authoritarianism of the white middle and lower class. Since the elites are so eager to find these negative qualities in the white majority, they think of perfectly healthy and normal qualities, including respect for the rule of law, racial consciousness, patriotism, and religious belief, as “fascist.”
A good term for this socio-psychological complex is “malignant narcissism,” a term first used to describe liberals by Tammy Bruce. A malignant narcissist, in my sense at least, is someone who abuses others in order to highlight his superiority.
A key element in malignant narcissism is attributing the white majority’s fascist tendencies to inadequacy, stupidity, and fear. Obama’s belief that white fascism is rooted in economic failure and that the white majority is too stupid to recognize that it’s real grievances are economic, rather than social, has a long history. Other explanations of white backwardness include sexual repression and the Oedipus complex. See my article on Theodor Adorno’s The Authoritarian Personality for more.
Here are some other articles I’ve written dealing with this topic.
Malignant narcissism:
explains why wealthy, highly-educated American whites are so liberal.
was the ideology of the professionals in the 1970s and 80s and continues to be strong among this class today.
was helpful to John Kerry throughout his political career and explains why people thought he was “bold” and “hip” for falsely accusing US troops of war crimes in Vietnam.
received its quintessential expression in Archie Bunker.
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“A key element in malignant narcissism is attributing the white majority’s fascist tendencies to inadequacy, stupidity, and fear.”
Crap. The key element in the white minority’s fascist tendencies is what it has been for all fascists in all times and in all places by any name it is called. The key element is the unadulterated lust for power over others at any price - as long as someone else pays the price - in blood - as long as it is someone else’s blood.
Fascism is always about the power of the few over the many. Rome, the Soviet Union, Hitler’s Germany, Mao’s China, Franco’s Spain, Bush’s America. One fascist pig is pretty much like another except for the lipstick and eye-liner - but underneath the pig shows through.
By on 4/22/08 at 6:36 pm
Here are the DSM-IV criteria for Narcissistic Personality Disorder (five or more listed below in order to make the diagnosis): 1. Has a grandiose sense of self-importance (e.g., exaggerates achievements and talents, expects to be recognized as superior without commensurate achievements); 2. Is preoccupied with fantasies of unlimited success, power, brilliance, beauty, or ideal love; 3. Believes that he of she is “special” and unique and can only be understood by or should associate with, other special or high-status people (or institutions); 4. Requires excessive admiration; 5. Has a sense of entitlement , i.e., unreasonable expectations of especially favorable treatment or automatic compliance with his or her expectations; 6. Is interpersonally exploitative, ie., takes advantage; 7. Lacks empathy: is unwilling to recognize or identify with feelings and needs of others; 8. Is often envious of others or believes that others are envious of him or her; 9. Shows arrogant, haughty behaviors or attitudes
While most (if not all) politicians exhibit some or many of these characteristics to one degree or another, one has to meet at least five of these criteria for the diagnosis. I’ll let people decide for themselves. In my humble but professional opinion (clinical psychologist), my observations confirm to me that he clearly meets five and most likely more of the above criteria. I have never given a diagnostic opinion for anyone without evaluating them personally, so I am reluctant to make this decision. However, as a psychologist may be employed as an expert profiler, this is my firm diagnostic impression. I’m interested in what others may think, keeping in mind their training and experience.
By on 5/10/08 at 1:18 pm
halninethousand especially, but to all - having lived with a man with NPD for 15 years, I can say that Barack Obama does not suffer from this disorder. His wife isn’t crazy (or at least not that we’ve seen). He certainly doesn’t lack empathy. He couldn’t run for president with this disorder because it requires empathy and people with NPD just don’t have that. Thanks.
By on 5/22/08 at 10:40 am
They cling to:
guns - A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed. Second Amendment
or religion - Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof. First Amendment
or antipathy toward people who aren’t like them - Freedom of association is guaranteed by the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Congress shall make no law … abridging … the right of the people peaceably to assemble.”
or anti-immigrant sentiment - The United States shall guarantee to every state in this union a republican form of government, and shall protect each of them against invasion. US Constitution, Article IV, Section 4
or anti-trade sentiment Article I, Section 8, of the Constitution states that Congress (only Congress) shall have the power “To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations.”
Oh, these bitter, bitter people.
By Jimmy Stubbs on 4/19/08 at 7:51 am