Thank you for your comments!

It is possible to be both a sociopath AND a narcissist — and I do think Obama has both disorders. BTW, the easy way to spot a narcissist is to observe whether they are constantly putting others down and how easily they feel shamed. A narcissist creates shame out of thin air, then offloads the shame by insulting the perceived shamer.

However, the reason we REALLY have to learn about how sociopathy works is that once you know the sociopath’s pattern of behavior, it is easy to match it with Obama’s modus operandi and see which step he’s on at any given time. Here’s the simplified pattern:

Step 1: Figure out what people want to hear and then say it. Then use charm and persuasion or an appeal to shared noble goals. “Here are all the wonderful things that will happen for you/your loved ones/the environment/whatever after you give me your autonomy and all your money and power.”

Alternate Step 1: Figure out what makes the mark feel ashamed or guilty. Then work it with the “pity me” or grievance group card. “I am a victim and you are so compassionate and powerful. Plus, really, it’s all your fault I am so pitiful and you owe me. But you will be redeemed when you give me your autonomy and all your money and power.”

Step 2: The mark or marks hand over all their money and power and wait expectantly for the goods or behaviors that were promised.

Step 3: The sociopath is outraged that the marks expect him to keep his word. That is for fools. Smart people say whatever they have to in order to get what they want. They are idiots if they give anything in return, no matter what they promised.

Step 4: The sociopath uses a variety of techniques to stop the marks from demanding what they were promised. These include, but are not limited to: delay, “not now, but soon”; fogging, which is providing vague promises; gaslighting, “You are crazy! I did NOT promise that thing to you!”; shaming, “You are BAD for wanting this promise kept — YOU should be doing stuff for ME!”; providing a fake fulfillment of the promise, “Sure, I’ll give gay federal employees benefits — you can have everything on this list (insert long list of benefits) as long as that’s in compliance with DOMA (only one or two items in the list do not conflict with DOMA and actually can be provided — but Obama got credit for the list and gays won’t find out the benefits are not there until, one by one, they try to use them); substitution, “You don’t want THAT, you want THIS”; and overwhelm, “OK, I’ll do the thing but only after you do this list of stuff first,” or “OK, but I’m going to filibuster you first until you are ready to fake your own death and beg me not to do the thing I promised.”

Rinse and repeat.

By the way, one of the reasons Obama is able to take so many contradictory positions is that most people just listen for the messages they want to hear, and after they hear it, they stop listening. So he will tell the most amazing lies like, “My administration is the most open and transparent administration ever,” and with a lapdog media, people say, “THAT’S what I wanted to hear” and tune out. It takes a huge amount of effort to counter the lie and Obama tells so many lies like this that it is impossible to keep up.

Master this lesson first: When Obama is saying something you want to hear, and suddenly you are thinking, “Oh, he is wise and good! I know because he agrees with ME!,”it only means he’s figured you out and wants something you have. Rest assured, you are not going to get the thing he’s promising.

Master this lesson second: Do NOT tune out or relax after Obama says something you wanted to hear. He usually breaks the promise in some underhanded way within 72 hours of making it.

Cynthia

IMO, Barack Obama is a full-on nut job… and a clinical narcissist.

Tendencies include preoccupation with fantasies of unlimited success, power, omnipotence, brilliance, or beauty- harbors a belief that he/she is “special” and unique, control freakery, grandiose self-importance, feeling “above the law”, interpersonally exploitive, inability to handle criticism, lack of empathy, arrogant/proud behaviors, surrounds himself with sycophants… sound familiar?

And how else to explain his writing a self-absorbed autobiography when he was still a nobody? Same as fellow narcissists Hitler and Stalin- no surprise there, to the narcissist… no topic is EVER as important as one’s self.

And what kind of monster mocks the disabled on Jay Leno? I guess we shouldn’t be too surprised by Obama’s gauche and downright cruel comment, no different than his classless cheap-shot on 92-yr-old Nancy Reagan in his first presser… apparently the Dear Leader’s preferred targets are handicapped and the elderly. But narcissists are often callous- even ruthless. They tend to lack empathy and/or a conscience… as your post so well explains. This is also evident in Obama’s lack of interest in his own half-brother who lives in poverty in Kenya, or his aunt found living in public housing in Boston. They simply don’t get him power or glory… so they interest Barack in the least.

It’s hard to imagine a worse combination in a leader than managerially-inexperienced, delusional narcissist with Bolshevik mentors and weird, vengeful grudges. This guy thinks he’s king of the universe, when his resume doesn’t qualify him to run a muffler shop.

Obama is a mess- and his insecurities, bad childhood, and irresponsible, far-left-wierdo parents are all OUR problem now, too.