The Self-Love of Barack Obama
July 14th, 2008 at 12:26am Mark Noonan
Powerline has an interesting look at an article about Obama’s rise - working off a New Yorker article by Ryan Lizza, it is clear that Obama has a high opinion of himself. This quote from the Lizza piece is telling:
Marty Nesbitt remembers Obama’s utter calm the day he gave his celebrated speech at the 2004 Democratic National Convention, in Boston, which made him an international celebrity and a potential 2008 Presidential candidate. “We were walking down the street late in the afternoon,” Nesbitt told me. “And this crowd was building behind us, like it was Tiger Woods at the Masters.”
“Barack, man, you’re like a rock star,” Nesbitt said.
“Yeah, if you think it’s bad today, wait until tomorrow,” Obama replied.
“What do you mean?”
“My speech,” Obama said, “is pretty good.”
While Obama is one of my brothers in Christ, I think he needs to take a course in Christian humility. That attitude is extraordinarily worrisome in a man who aspires to be President. It is clear that Obama believes in himself - and there’s only one thing wrong with such a belief: its insane.
Not insane in the sense that Obama will need to be locked in a padded cell, but insane in the sense that it betrays a complete lack of understanding in Obama of his standing vis a vis the rest of humanity and, of course, his relation as the creature of a Creator (and you may discount this as important - but Obama professes Christianity, which makes it vitally important…even if he doesn’t actually believe it, because that makes him not just self centered, but monstrously dishonest). I know that in modern times we teach that one must believe in one’s self….but, look around you and you’ll see the results of self-belief in corporate boardrooms of bankrupt firms, in prison cells filled with con artists, in broken families and destroyed relationships. A goodly portion of our social pathologies come to us via people who believe very strongly in themselves…the trouble with believing in the self is the fact that it crowds out believing in anything but the self.
Pride is not one of the seven deadly sins by accident - it is one thing to be proud of one’s nation; one’s firm; one’s successful child; one’s regiment; one’s sporting team…that is pride based upon subordination of the self to a larger purpose…but to be proud of the self is always destructive. I cannot, of course, peer into Obama’s soul and see what motivates him, but all that I’ve learned of him indicates a man who has got on too far and too fast and who lacks that sense of balance - that humble understanding that dust thou art, and unto dust thou shall return. While it isn’t such a problem to have yet another self-absorbed Senator, it is a problem in a President. Nixon was self-absorbed; Carter was self-absorbed; Clinton was self-absorbed. Get the picture?
Entry Filed under: Campaign 2008, Democrats
36 Comments
1. Jeremiah | July 14th, 2008 at 1:14 am
All very true, Mark.
True as true can be, my friend.
But….as you’ve pointed out….he has professed, to be a Christian.
However, his actions do not match his words.
As I’ve said, I’d like to ask Obama one question..
What is your personal relationship with Jesus Christ?
Jesus Christ would never condone the murder of tiny unborn baby human beings, from day one. Period.
If he can’t, Obama is going to do what Obama wants to do, and could care less for the simple reason that he doesn’t have to see the gruesome scene of a little baby’s life being snuffed out one right after the other in these slaughter houses.
I really feel sorry for him, he seems like a really nice guy…seems friendly….but God help him, he got in with the wrong crowd, and his darkened thinking has blinded him to the realities of this world. Even more sad, there too many just like him. So sad.
2. Mark Noonan | July 14th, 2008 at 1:25 am
Jeremiah,
True enough, but not the primary concern here - all of us are in error on lots of things, but error is not in and of itself evil…pride is. My wonder is whether or not our brother Obama has too much pride to be an effective President…
3. Jeremiah | July 14th, 2008 at 1:32 am
Mark,
Obama is prideful of his evil way of thinking.
he’s proud of the evil ideology that is liberalism.
He’s prideful of the people who spew forth liberalism…or in other words, those who think like he does.
It’s evil all the way around…people working unison to the same destructive end.
So, yes, by all means….he would be effective…but it would mean hell (pardon the language) for all Americans. Which is to say, he would be most effective at getting evil accomplished.
4. Jeremiah | July 14th, 2008 at 1:33 am
See what I mean?
5. What? | July 14th, 2008 at 1:33 am
Insane, Mark?
Hmm, how would the average person act if they:
1) graduated from Columbia undergrad
2) Graduated Harvard Law
3) Were the ediotor of the Harvard Law Review
4) were elected to the U.S. Senate
5) drew crowds of tens of thousands of people?
That Obama is not rubbing this nation’s face in his accomplishments is an accomplishment in itself. Give the guy a break. He can’t even say he is proud of a speech he wrote without you calling him “monstrous” and “insane.”
If this is all you got on him, you are in a heap of trouble in the fall.
Of course the great irony is that conservatives worship at the alter of personal responsibility and initiative. You want people to accomplish great things then you say they should not believe in themselves? Seems counterproductive, doesn’t it. Don’t you need to believe in your telants in order to get the initiative to strike out on your own?
Also, what is with this:
A goodly portion of our social pathologies come to us via people who believe very strongly in themselves…the trouble with believing in the self is the fact that it crowds out believing in anything but the self.
So what? A great deal of good comes from people believing in themselves as well. The same self-belief held by the bankrupt company’s boardmembers is the same belief held by someone like Steve Jobs. It is just Job had a better idea (and probably a greater belief in himself)
6. Jeremiah | July 14th, 2008 at 1:41 am
You want people to accomplish great things then you say they should not believe in themselves?
This Nation will progress no further in the civilized world until they have responsibility to God. Period.
And that’s the only way they will progress.
7. Mark Noonan | July 14th, 2008 at 2:05 am
what,
I don’t believe in myself - I believe in God. I will do the best I can, and pray to God to give me the strength, wisdom and persistence to use my talents to the best of my ability. But I don’t believe in myself - no, that is an insane idea. Obama, unfortunately, seems to believe in himself.
You see, I’m not saying that you can’t rise high on self-belief…Obama may very well be sworn in as President in January based on self-belief…but that doesn’t mean he’ll be a good President. It doesn’t, also, mean that he’s been a good Senator…in fact, “mediocre” is the best description of his US and State Senate tenure. Self belief can carry you far, but it can’t do the right thing. Not ever, not even once - and not even by accident.
Let me try some examples -
Ceasar believed in himself. Napoleon believed in himself. Bismarck believed in himself. Lenin believed in himself.
Lincoln didn’t believe in himself. Mother Theresa didn’t believe in herself. Pope John Paul II didn’t believe in himself.
See the difference?
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9. dedosinuna | July 14th, 2008 at 2:28 am
OMG! OMG! Barack actually said his speech is pretty good. Can you believe that?! It’s obvious to any thinking person that Barack must be a completely self-absorbed lunatic!
/snark
What’s next, Noonan? Barack drove 60 in a 55 mph zone? Or maybe, Barack seen yawning during McCain speech? Whatever it is, I’m sure you’ll use it to launch into some whacky diatribe about how this somehow reveals the evilness inherent in Obama’s soul.
10. What? | July 14th, 2008 at 2:33 am
So are you saying Lincoln didn’t think he wrote a good speech when he finished the Gettysburg address? You really think he thought it was just okay?
Are you also comparing Obama to Napoleon because he said he liked a speech he wrote?
That is a new one. Maybe McCain should try that out on the campaign trail. F
urthermore, Lenin was not the meglomaniac you make him out to be. He believed in an ideology, not himself. Also, by the time Lenin died he was probably pretty satisfied with his accomplishments. I would hardly call him a failure.
Also, are you suggesting that if Ceasar believed in Jesus instead of himself, he would not have been murdered? Noonan, you are really going out on a limb here.
Also, I seem to recall Lincoln was murdered, too. So one man believed in himself and the other didn’t and they both ended the same way. Again, what is your point?
“But I don’t believe in myself - no, that is an insane idea. Obama, unfortunately, seems to believe in himself.”
Why is it insane to believe your talents aren’t from a divine source? You throw a lot of adjectives around Noonan. I am not sure you know what they mean. You certainly don’t explain yourself.
My talents are a result of my own cultivation of them as well as the love of those around me. My friends and family believe in me and I believe in myself. I believe I have worked hard to get where I am and that my talents will take me further. What is insane about this?
As for your list, you name two people who were religious leaders. Of course they believed everything they did was a result of God acting through them.
What about every one who has succeeded by believing in their own talents? I already mentioned Steve Jobs. What about Bill Gates? Warren Buffet? What about sports stars, artists and musicians. Last time I checked the Beatles never thanked jesus for their talent. Picasso wasn’t claiming he was a vessel for the divine.
As usual you assume that all people who believe in themselves will go off the deep end and fail. This is, of course, not how the world works.
11. Jeremiah | July 14th, 2008 at 2:38 am
how this somehow reveals the evilness inherent in Obama’s soul.–Dedosinuna.
Dedosinuna,
Well, Obama’s pride doesn’t have as much to do with his evilness, as his evilness has to do with his pride.
His evilness is not “inherent” by any means…he’s chosen to take the road that he has…And I will tell you here and now, if he is our President come January 20th, 2009 it will be a dark, dark era for America.
And just to put your mind at ease … you don’t have to think twice about it.
12. What? | July 14th, 2008 at 2:40 am
Jeremiah writes
“This Nation will progress no further in the civilized world until they have responsibility to God. Period.
And that’s the only way they will progress.”
Hmm, well we seem to be having our asses handed to us by China, a nation of atheists. How do you explain that? They seem to be progressing.
Jeremiah, how do you keep from going crazy every time you walk out your door? You seem to think everything is sinful. DOn’t you just get tired of all that judging?
Sometimes I wish I could spend one day in your head. Someone should make a reality show out of your life.
13. Jeremiah | July 14th, 2008 at 2:55 am
Hmm, well we seem to be having our asses handed to us by China, a nation of atheists. How do you explain that? They seem to be progressing.
What,
Yeah, isn’t that something…an oppressive state like China who feeds off a Nation who seeks God’s favor. I wonder how most of those folks are feeling right now….oh, I’m sure there are a few who are happy with their wealth and all, but the majority, friend, are miserable.
If America continues in the condition and downward wayness that it is headed, then there’s more than 50% chance that some country like China will try overtake this country….in fact, I believe that World War III would be very near. Why? Well, you know, Judeo Christianity is all about freedom, that is it’s definition complete, which is what makes America complete and harmonious, without Judeo Christianity most or all people in this country would have no freedom to believe as they do. I believe that most Americans want to keep it that way.
We have to choose to be free, and that’s only through the shed blood of Jesus Christ, friend. He sets us free from all worry and lust of the flesh which destroys!!
14. Robert | July 14th, 2008 at 3:07 am
“I don’t believe in myself - I believe in God. I will do the best I can, and pray to God to give me the strength, wisdom and persistence to use my talents to the best of my ability. But I don’t believe in myself - no, that is an insane idea.” - Mark Noonan
Mark, the irony here is that in almost every post on this site you state that your belief system, religiously, personally and politically is better than anyone else’s and constantly bash Liberals for not always sharing your beliefs. You claim that only YOUR way is right (because it is the way of God, supposedly) and that any who do not share your religious or political views is wrong.
Mark, by the very nature of your bashing Liberals all of the time, you are asserting that you exist on a higher plane of understanding of others. How is that NOT “believing in yourself”?
Mark, how do you dupe yourself into believing that you are not prideful when you leave replies to commenters like ” Actually, I’m quite right about that…” and the same such lines, saying them smugly and claiming that you know all the answers.
Mark, you are always quick to try to prove others wrong on this site and state that your own view is the correct one. Anything that contradicts your belief system is not valid. I’ve watched you do it over and over again on here.
You do not wish to hear another’s view, or to actually put yourself in their shoes and learn from them. Otherwise you would not always bash Liberals and lump them all into the same category of what you THINK they are. Most Liberals are genuine caring people who only want the best for the world, the same way you claim to want the best of the world.
Mark, try to learn from others sometime. If you are truly the “humble” person you claim to be, you will try to learn from a Liberal instead of just bashing them and saying they are wrong.
Unfortunately, if you cannot do that, please shed this false piety that you are claiming and admit the real truth. YOU are the arrogant one.
You certainly believe that your religion and your truth are the ONLY way. How is THAT kind of thinking NOT arrogant????
Other people throughtout history have had great ideas about the nature of the Universe. Not all of them were insane. Not all of them believed in the Christian God.
Just because you are not a Christian does not automatically assume that you are wrong. There are many other possibilities out there, and to call people who choose to explore those possibilities wrong and claim YOUR God is the only one that matters IS the height of arrogance.
But unfortunately, many neocons and many religious whackos like Jeremiah will not accept that anyone else might have an idea that makes just as much sense as theirs. They refuse to learn from these people and hang on to their arrogant belief that ONLY what they think is valid.
Mark, people who think like that and shove their beliefs down everyone else’s throat are the absolute essence of Pride.
How can you not see that many of your “Christian brothers and sisters”, possibly even yourself, are the ARROGANT ones?????
15. js | July 14th, 2008 at 7:38 am
“If you are truly the “humble” person you claim to be, you will try to learn from a Liberal instead of just bashing them and saying they are wrong. ”
funny….this leads to a belief that humble is not capable of thought….which is false….and that humble should not stand up for what is right…in the face of what is wrong….which is false…yet…being humble the way mark uses it…is to set aside our pride and arrogance…not to submit to the will of every charlatain that shows up….so….
i humbly disagree with your erroneous conclusion…
16. Tuneup | July 14th, 2008 at 8:27 am
It is clear that Obama believes in himself - and there’s only one thing wrong with such a belief: its insane.July 14th, 2008 at 12:26am Mark Noonan
Mark, so you are saying McCain is sane in understanding of his standing vis a vis the rest of humanity because he does not believe in himself? Moveon.org could run a political ad with this theme and you would donate to it? Wow what a loony world.
17. kmg | July 14th, 2008 at 9:23 am
It is clear that Obama believes in himself - and there’s only one thing wrong with such a belief: its insane.July 14th, 2008 at 12:26am Mark Noonan
“In your last team meeting before the Super Bowl, Lieutenant Colonel Greg Gadson urged you to have pride in your team and believe in yourselves, which is exactly what you did.” – President Bush to NY Giants, April 30, 2008
“You’re competitive because you’re talented and tough; because you believe in yourselves and in your product…” – VP Cheney in remarks at a Harley-Davidson plant, January 6, 2006
“You have to work hard, honor the team, and believe in yourself. And that’s exactly what you did, and it paid off.” – Laura Bush at Father Flanagan’s Girls and Boys Town, April 3, 2006
18. Macker | July 14th, 2008 at 9:23 am
Tuneup: those of us who profess ourselves as Christians believe we, as sinful human beings, cannot accomplish everything we set out to do, so we ask God to guide us. He know what we can and cannot handle…and He takes care of the latter.
19. Pain | July 14th, 2008 at 9:42 am
6. Jeremiah | July 14th, 2008 at 1:41 am
People like you shrieked this in the 1800s and the 1900s and every time the nation and terra has continued on its path to progress. medicine, science technology all have made the Human Experience, new different and better. Social respect for individuals and minorities have contributed to the world you live on and made your life better in indirect and direct ways. People whose lifestyles you loathe work everyday in research labs and in universities to make your end of life care more compassionate, your mid life more healthy and satisfying and hopefully future generations less dependent on petroleum resources that come from abroad or risk destruction of sensitive ecosystems.
What you say is pure foolishness.
20. Jeremiah | July 14th, 2008 at 10:05 am
What you say is pure foolishness.–Pain.
It is foolishness to those who have no eye-sight.
21. Pain | July 14th, 2008 at 10:13 am
20. Jeremiah | July 14th, 2008 at 10:05 am
Who sees more Jeremiah a blind man of Faith who embraces Love and treats his fellow man with respect or a sighted man who ignores poverty and hates all that he sees who are not like his G-dlike self?
22. Tractatus | July 14th, 2008 at 11:07 am
Robert in comment 14 hit the nail squarely on the head.
And this is pretty weak stuff, Noonan. Obama says he thinks his speech is “pretty good,” and you go through all sorts of mental contortions to connect that to “social pathologies.” You sound desperate and afraid.
23. Jeremiah | July 14th, 2008 at 12:46 pm
You sound desperate and afraid.
The only desperatism, Tractatus, is in Barack Obama….he’s jumin’ all over the place. He’s switchin’ positions so fast he’s spinnin’ out of control. He’s lied and lied and lied.
He’s a dangerous man and he’s gonna cause major, major trouble. And you’re just too dumb to see it.
24. Jeremiah | July 14th, 2008 at 12:53 pm
Pain,
If you have no eye sight, then you have no understanding of right and wrong. You can’t see what right should be, and what wrong should be. That’s liberalism.
Liberalism says, “there is no wrong.” “You are free to do anything, no matter what it is…making laws that say you can murder by abolishing the death penalty.”
The great beast coming, my friend, and he’s got some big teeth to be sure.
Cheerio ma lad…and do be careful out there.
25. Sunny | July 14th, 2008 at 1:08 pm
You say nothing of George W Bush’ prideful behavior, who you have blindly supported all these years. If you want to speak of a prideful man you should have started with him. When asked if he ever made a mistake he had no answer. Who among us has NEVER made a mistake? Who among us would not admit we have made a mistake? If that isn’t prideful I don’t know what is. Would you agree that landing on a ship in a fighter plane decked out in a flight suit to proclaim “Mission Accomplished” was not a prideful act?
Regarding believing in yourself - that does not eliminate our belief in God. It is not an either/or situation. Furthermore, if you do not believe in your abilities who else will? You are quick to judge Barack Obama on EVERYTHING he say or does in a negative way. Never once have I read your posts where you stated any doubts of George Bush’s religous beliefs but apparently believe that you are qualified to judge Barack Obama’s religious beliefs. Would you agree that is somewhat arrogant to believe you have such qualifications? (and even more so, Jeremiah- for someone who proclaims to be such a Christian you are very quick to judge others)
I recognize that this is the silly season and you will do your level best to write nonsensical posts such as this hoping that you can sully the reputation of candidate from the opposing party. I have great respect for John McCain because he does not trash his opponents (he certainly has had his share of being trashed by his own party members). Too bad that many who post here are so immature that they cannot follow Senator McCain’s example. He attacks the issues, not the man.
26. Pain | July 14th, 2008 at 1:15 pm
24. Jeremiah | July 14th, 2008 at 12:53 pm
We grow weary of your lies about Liberalism as an ethic. What about your Authoritarian Dominionism that would overthrow America’s popular representative government for a religious council of elders that would rule directly from the Old testament? This is what you wish them if Liberals want what is wrong for America in your blind view then this is what heretical zealots like you wish. Bloody riot and corrupt gray haired white men who do all the things in the dark they tell you not to do in the light.
Hey wait a minute that’s what Christianity for political gain has right now.
As always the fascist who believe that the house will be burnt down but somehow he will come out of the fire unsinged. Way to go Siegfried!
27. test » Blog Archive&hellip | July 14th, 2008 at 2:19 pm
[...] Self-Love of Barack Obama Lynn Sweet wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptWhile it isn’t such a problem to [...]
28. Jeremiah | July 14th, 2008 at 3:00 pm
We grow weary of your lies about Liberalism as an ethic.–Pain.
Well, that’s tough. Get used to it. The truth will set you free.
What about your Authoritarian Dominionism that would overthrow America’s popular representative government for a religious council of elders that would rule directly from the Old testament?–Pain.
Friend, you have a long, very long ways to go before understanding my system of government.
Totally unlike your sytem of government which brings freedom without any law. My system brings freedom, justice through the law.
You have a choice to do many, many things, everything that is necessary to help you make a living……but no mischief, period.
You bring one man to justice, and the next man says, “Yikes! I better watch what I’m doing, I don’t want to get in that kind of trouble.” And instead of having young people on the streets all the time, you have young people in school getting an education, and they’re in Sunday School on Sunday mornings. People who care about one another. Young people giving the elderly a helping hand and witnessing to others about the love of Jesus Christ. The true Spirit of Christianity.
And that’s what Conservatism, at least in my goals as a Conservative is to preserve that and make it stronger, so we can be a stronger better nation.
There are many of your liberals who absolutely hate this, you can’t stand it because we are doing what is right, because we choose to do right…and that’s the devil in you, you see.
Well, I can’t help you…you must help yourself…but to give a good starting point, I’ll state this one thing and then you can take it from there….Sin, will take you farther, than you want to go. In a similar fashion, liberalism is an advocate of sin, so it is working, in essence, to the perpetuation of Satan’s work. Ya see, Satan likes liberalism, because it destroys people, and any other way he thinks he can do it he will do it. Causing suffering like no one knows.
Remember that.
See Ya!
29. Jonathan | July 14th, 2008 at 3:28 pm
Jeremiah, what you’re talking about isn’t democracy (hell, it ain’t even basic conservatism)….its a religious theocracy.
Religion is like Western-style democracy: just becasue it works for us, it doesn’t mean its going to work for everyone else, and it sure as hell doesn’t give us the right to force it down anyone’s throat.
30. TampaBayRayz-4-evah-don't-mess | July 14th, 2008 at 4:05 pm
I think a huge ego is one of those characteristics that is absolutely necessary but never sufficient for ALL politicians. Obama and McCain are two of the most egotistical men in politics, thus it is not surprising that they are the major party nominees.
I certainly don’t argue with Mark’s central point. I’m just not buying that McCain is saintly and Obama is the devil. Both are human beings and big time pols. I just happen to prefer Obama.
31. neocon | July 14th, 2008 at 4:08 pm
“Obama and McCain are two of the most egotistical men in politics,…” - Mr V
Can you provide any quotes or statements by McCain that can support your assertion?
merci beaucoup
neocon
32. Jeremiah | July 14th, 2008 at 4:09 pm
its a religious theocracy.–Jonathan.
At least that what you want to call it, Jonathan. But only in your fairy imagination. Because the basic knowledge that it requires for you to govern in your system of government is as simple as buying a candy bar at the station. The cashier doesn’t care how much it is just so long as you can come up with the dough to pay for it. The next man coming to the counter might not have the money, is dressed like he’s poor, says he will pay for it later…so they let him go on his word….he never shows back up again. That’s liberalism, and pretty soon, you’ve got more and more following the last man’s example…he goes and tells all his friends, “Hey! I really fooled those people down at the station. Haha!” And one at a time, they all get their free candy bar…..and who’s paying for those cany bars? The working man.
The same way with liberalism is regards to crime…people say, “Yeah, man, he got away…so can I.” So, whose next? I don’t know….where’s the law?
We got prisons full the way it is….what are we gonna do, build more? More taxpayer money?
What?
Well, you got all the answers, so I’ll let you figure it out…
33. Kahn | July 15th, 2008 at 1:42 am
Barack “Ted Baxter” Obama
34. bongoman | July 15th, 2008 at 4:53 am
So Obama needs to take a course in “Christian humility”?
What course does McCain need to take for calling his wife a “trollop” and a “c—”, I wonder?
35. Pain | July 15th, 2008 at 5:45 am
29. Jeremiah | July 14th, 2008 at 3:00 pm
And for these words Our fatwa is forthcoming.
36. TampaBayRayz-4-evah-don't-mess | July 15th, 2008 at 12:30 pm
I got some great SATIRE for anyone who enjoyed the cover of the NEW YORKER.
What do you get when you cross a Christian with a Jew?
YOU GET A JANITOR WHO OWNS THE BUILDING