The Pink Flamingo :: Barack Obama, Religious, Shallow, or Psychopath

“…Most criminals -- whether psychopathic or not -- are shaped by poverty and often childhood abuse as well. In contrast, corporate psychopaths typically grew up in stable, loving families that were middle class or affluent. But because they're pathological liars, they tell romanticized tales of rising from tough, impoverished backgrounds. Dunlap pretended that he grew up as the son of a laid-off dockworker; in truth, his father worked steadily and raised his family in suburban comfort. The corporate psychopaths whom Babiak studied all went to college, and a couple even had PhDs. Their ruthless pursuit of self-interest was more easily accomplished in the white-collar realm, which their backgrounds had groomed them for, rather than the criminal one, which comes with much lousier odds….”

There are some very good commentaries today about Barack Obama and his church. Harold Hutchison has a very good one, based on his perspective of how he felt when his first choice, Mitt Romney, was being demonized because of his LDS faith.
Harold’s take is on how Barack Obama cannot unify America.

“…And this is why Obama will not be able to unify. Because, fundamentally, to unify the country, he has to believe it's worth his effort. And to have sat in a church where "God damn America" was preached for twenty years, to have surrounded himself with people who believe that "America is the greatest sin against God" speaks volumes about how he views this country. It is fundamentally divisive….”

I left a comment that Barack Obama cannot unify America because he neither loves nor understands it. I think Harold is on to something here. I think it goes to the heart of Obama’s pernicious pastor problems. Perhaps it would be better if Barack Obama were an atheist, but he wouldn’t understand that. I truly think a person cannot understand anything with any depth if they are nothing but a shallow, empty shell of a person (religiously speaking).

The only reason this man even goes to church is because it looks good. It’s what is expected of him. There is nothing there – he is empty. He goes about the movements of life in order to achieve his agenda. I don’t think it matters if he is a Narcissist or a Psychopath. He fits the profile of several of the individuals in the book Snakes in Suits. (I highly recommend you read this book).

There is a difference between someone who has a very real personality disorder and someone who is just “nuts”. Bill Clinton is a text book Narcissist. Interestingly one of the ways a true psychopath shines is in the area of change. They thrive on it. In change they can create true mischief.

“.."The psychopath has no difficulty dealing with the consequences of rapid change; in fact, he or she thrives on it," Babiak claims. "Organizational chaos provides both the necessary stimulation for psychopathic thrill seeking and sufficient cover for psychopathic manipulation and abusive behavior."…:

BARACK OBAMA, THE “CORPORATE” PSYCHOPATH
From Fast Company

“…But how can we recognize psychopathic types? Hare has revised his Psychopathy Checklist (known as the PCL-R, or simply "the Hare") to make it easier to identify so-called subcriminal or corporate psychopaths. He has broken down the 20 personality characteristics into two subsets, or "factors." Corporate psychopaths score high on Factor 1, the "selfish, callous, and remorseless use of others" category. It includes eight traits: glibness and superficial charm; grandiose sense of self-worth; pathological lying; conning and manipulativeness; lack of remorse or guilt; shallow affect (i.e., a coldness covered up by dramatic emotional displays that are actually playacting); callousness and lack of empathy; and the failure to accept responsibility for one's own actions. Sound like anyone you know? (Corporate psychopaths score only low to moderate on Factor 2, which pinpoints "chronically unstable, antisocial, and socially deviant lifestyle," the hallmarks of people who wind up in jail for rougher crimes than creative accounting.)

This view is supported by research by psychologists Belinda Board and Katarina Fritzon at the University of Surrey, who interviewed and gave personality tests to 39 high-level British executives and compared their profiles with those of criminals and psychiatric patients. The executives were even more likely to be superficially charming, egocentric, insincere, and manipulative, and just as likely to be grandiose, exploitative, and lacking in empathy. Board and Fritzon concluded that the businesspeople they studied might be called "successful psychopaths." In contrast, the criminals -- the "unsuccessful psychopaths" -- were more impulsive and physically aggressive….”

There is nothing to him. He is an empty soul. He can talk religion all he wishes, but it doesn’t matter. Michael Medved has an excellent commentary about Obama and his church.

“…A presidential campaign amounts to the world’s most significant job interview for the world’s most significant job. The decision-makers (voters) need to know as much as possible about the various applicants in order to make an informed evaluation. It was Obama himself who told us that his membership in Trinity U.C.C. helped form and reveal his true character. In his first book, “Dreams of My Father,” he wrote rhapsodically about his experience in the church and his second book, “The Audacity of Hope,” proudly took its title from a sermon by Pastor Wright. Early in his campaign Obama described himself as a “devout Christian” and referred reporters to Trinity to learn more about his preferred brand of Christianity. He also cited Father Michael Pfleger as one of his three primary spiritual mentors (along with Jeremiah Wright) and until last week Pfleger played a prominent role in Obamas campaign….”

Barack Obama’s choice of religion doesn’t matter. He becomes a "born again" Christian because it is expedient. It is part of the total package, the marketable product. I don’t care if he is Jewish, Muslim, Protestant, Catholic, LDS, Episcopalian, Buddhist, or Druid. It is the way he has handled his religion. The Bible teaches us that we are not to judge how much person believes. We can though, make a reasonable decision about how he believes by his “fruits” – his actions. With Obama, this is a mote point. He is in a “Christian” church because that’s where he should be, politically. It’s all about appearance, not substance. He needs “Christian” votes. If we were a primarily Shinto nation like Japan, he’s be Shinto. In England he’d be Anglican. In Kenya, he’s be Muslim, Thailand – Buddhist. If he lived in the Amazon he’s be the most devout head-hunter on the block.

There is no reality with Barack Obama, and that is what is so sad. He believes in nothing but his own personal ambition. Can you think of anything more tragic?

Barack Obama reminds me of an Episcopalian minister I once knew. I can criticize Obama for not doing something about his church when he “disagreed” with Jeremiah Wright because I was put in the same position. I took a two year sabbatical. I don’t think anyone had any doubt about my feelings. Obama could have done the same thing if he’d had the courage to do so.

But then again we have the whole problem in a nut-shell.

Barack Obama has no courage. He is a sniveling coward. There has been quite bit of talk around the blogsphere about Obama being Islamic, and a "Manchurian Candidate". He isn't. Why? It takes a little bit of narcissistic and strange courage to be an Islamic Manchurian Candidate. He has none. He takes the path of least resistance. Can you imagine what would happen if a President Obama were faced with an invasion? He lacks the you know what to do what his betters have done to make this country what it is today.