Political narcissism
It takes a certain amount of narcissism to believe your are "the One."'IS he nuts?"
So asked the Drudge Report in linking to an article questioning disgraced Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich's mental health.
The story quoted one Chicagoan: "When you know you're being watched, why would you do something like that? You have to have something wrong."
Kinda like a president with a history of philandering having an affair in the Oval Office? Or maybe a likely presidential candidate taunting press to follow him and then taking his mistress out on a boat called "Monkey Business"?
Or a governor and ex-attorney general who loudly crusaded against prostitution rings even as he was frequenting one?
To Bill Clinton, Gary Hart and Eliot Spitzer, you can add John Edwards, who made his family and "happy" marriage the centerpiece of his campaign while he carried on an affair.
What's their problem?
Sure, Blagojevich plowed ahead with his scheming for months after learning he was under investigation. But that behavior isn't so bizarre for a high-level politician.
In a survey of psychology experts, the Seattle Times found that politics tends to attract risk takers. After all, what kind of person wants a job where your job security is at the whim of voters? More often than not, just running for office is a huge professional risk.
And, once in office, pols can begin to develop a sense of entitlement and belief they will never be caught. They often believe they "deserve" certain things, like more money or sex outside of marriage.
In 1998, many simply didn't believe the Monica Lewinsky allegations because it seemed like such high-risk behavior. But in an interview at the time, Clinton's former mistress Gennifer Flowers said she believed Lewinsky, because it fit Clinton's love for risk. She recalled how she and then-Gov. Clinton were intimate when Hillary was nearby and could have easily caught them.
After discovery of his affair, John Edwards told ABC News that his experiences had "fed a self-focus, an egotism, a narcissism that leads you to believe you can do whatever you want. You're invincible. And there will be no consequences."
Indeed, many psychologists say narcissism is epidemic in politics.
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What sets some of these politicians apart is the arrogance that goes with the narcissism. Trial lawyers are sometimes described as egomaniacal. It is something that comes with contest living. Most people go through life rarely having to deal with winning or losing in ways that the rest of the world knows about, but in certain professions that the media covers everyone knows the winners and losers.
Politics is one of those areas, as are most sports. What we know right now is that Gov. Blagojevich is looking like a loser in this contest.
By what stretch of imagination did you include Senator Hart on this list? He was never even accused of criminal activity or of public corruption. He has lived an extraordinary life of public service to this day. He and his only wife will celebrate their 50th anniversary next year. Isn’t it time to leave them alone? Do you just tar everyone with the same cheap brush?
ReplyDeleteBut, if you insist, you should at least get your facts straight. The taunt, “follow me around,” was not the impetus for the unprecedented invasion of Senator Hart’s privacy. That comment had not yet been published when reporters staked out in the bushes outside the Senator’s townhouse. They were prompted by an uncorroborated, anonymous phone tip. Check out the dates. It was the worst kind of “gotcha” journalism, and you’re perpetuating it.