The Narcissists

narcissist - a person who is overly self-involved, and often vain and selfish

For years, Obama's critics have accused him of being a narcissist. And rightfully so, since Obama has a record of publicly ostracizing those who dared to criticize either him or his policies. He even went so far as to name particular people, not just whole networks - he has called out Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity; he has had the IRS go after conservative groups applying for tax-exempt status; he has had the DOJ spy on Fox News' James Rosen and the Associated Press. Obama has acted the bully to the Supreme court before an important decision that would impact on his policies; he even scolded them in front of the world during a State of the Union address. Not to mention his countless insults hurled at Republicans or the Tea Party. Obama's speeches have been overwhelmingly in the first person - accomplishments are his, goals are his, actions and reactions are his and his only. Never does he credit anyone else, yet blame is always on someone else. His thin skin has been problematic, as a powerful and uniting leader needs a truly thick skin. These examples go on and on; it is very apparent to those willing to say it, our president is a narcissist at the very least.

Now comes along a whole new crop of people wanting that same privilege of leading this country. In the first Republican debate, hosted by Fox News moderators, Donald Trump has shown himself to possess very similar characteristics as that of our thin-skinned president. Not that this wasn't apparent before the debate, but there was a sense that he was simply calling it like it is, pulling no punches and putting on display an ego that has been a part of his personality forever. Yet until the debate, the ego didn't seem quite that problematic.

Trump, like all the other candidates, got some tough questions from the moderators. But unlike all the other candidates, he fought back by attacking the moderators, the network, and the other candidates. And now we watch as he excoriates anyone who criticizes him, how he punishes anyone whom he deems is 'against' him. The night after the debate he gave a long interview to rival network CNN during Megyn Kelly's time slot. He gets personal. He gets petulant...like a child. He is having tantrums before our eyes. When he speaks, it is about him. And it's all about the thin skin. The toughness of Trump we don't mind. The lack of political correctness we don't mind. But if this 'enemies list' is his tactic of dealing with those who oppose him and how he would lead as the next president, then this is a big problem. And this is without examining his ideas on how to run the government or his political philosophy or vision for the country. Sure, we have some general idea about him getting tough with other countries, about cracking down on illegal immigration, but it has become about his ego at this point.

Seems like the very last thing we need as a country is more of the same from our president as we've had for the last two terms. Judging by Trump's reaction to whatever he sees as negative pushback, his narcissism is the quality that will prevent him from being an effective and uniting leader. How do we know? We've already seen this show.