Holy Crap! Liberal, David Gershon: Obama is a snob

[SSG Snuggle Bunny]

Not only did a liberal write this but the left-of-center WaPo editorial board gave it a pass from publishing:

After a series of ineffective public messages -- leaving the political landscape dotted with dry rhetorical wells -- President Obama has hit upon a closing argument.

"Part of the reason that our politics seems so tough right now," he recently told a group of Democratic donors in Massachusetts, "and facts and science and argument [do] not seem to be winning the day all the time is because we're hard-wired not to always think clearly when we're scared. And the country is scared."

Let's unpack these remarks.

Obama clearly believes that his brand of politics represents "facts and science and argument." His opponents, in disturbing contrast, are using the more fearful, primitive portion of their brains. Obama views himself as the neocortical leader -- the defender, not just of the stimulus package and health-care reform but also of cognitive reasoning. His critics rely on their lizard brains -- the location of reptilian ritual and aggression. Some, presumably Democrats, rise above their evolutionary hard-wiring in times of social stress; others, sadly, do not.

Though there is plenty of competition, these are some of the most arrogant words ever uttered by an American president.

The neocortical presidency destroys the possibility of political dialogue. What could Obama possibly learn from voters who are embittered, confused and dominated by subconscious evolutionary fears? They have nothing to teach, nothing to offer to the superior mind. Instead of engaging in debate, Obama resorts to reductionism, explaining his opponents away.

It is ironic that the great defender of "science" should be in the thrall of pseudoscience. Human beings under stress are not hard-wired for stupidity, which would be a distinct evolutionary disadvantage. The calculation of risk and a preference for proven practices are the conservative contributions to the survival of the species. Whatever neuroscience may explain about political behavior, it does not mean that the fears of massive debt and intrusive government are irrational.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/10/18/AR2010101803778.html

Read the rest.

Obama is coming apart. If the TEA Party sweeps a major portion of the available seats and takes-out several prominent dems we can only wonder how a narcissistic ego might react. More vacations as he lapses into denial and escapism? Abuse of power to bully critics and by-pass oversight?

At this point I honestly can't put it past him.

[Wretched Excess]

yep.  he's leaving the country on the monday after the elections and going to india, among other places.

[Boudicca]

yep.  he's leaving the country on the monday after the elections and going to india, among other places.

India could do us a huge favor and keep him.

[SSG Snuggle Bunny]

India could do us a huge favor and keep him.

Poor India. They have enough problems as it is.

[littlelamb]

After the elections he is going to be put on heavier doses of anti depression meds

[longview]

That was the buzz while the O while still campaigning.  His crack about non-metropolitan dwellers and their "God and guns" came from this point of view that he has.

Like the term "neo-cortical" and not surprised his own supporters are now offended.

[IassaFTots]

Poor India. They have enough problems as it is.

Well they could always foust him on their neighbors....Pock-i-stan.

[JohnnyReb]

Well they could always foust him on their neighbors....Pock-i-stan.

Hey, he's already been there, done that.....illegally in the 80's.

[Wretched Excess]

India could do us a huge favor and keep him.

after the midterms, I guess he wants to be in a country that didn't just repudiate him.  he's looking for home field advantage, so to speak.

[Eupher]

Great article. I really loved this part:

One response to social stress doesn't help at all: telling people their fears result from primitive irrationality. Obama may think that many of his fellow citizens can't reason. But they can still vote.

Steel on target with that one.

Obama simply can't stop pissing off his base. Even Bill Clinton, a master politician, would smile and have you think that you were the most important person in the world when, in fact, he was thinking of ways to further himself and his agenda.

Obama doesn't have that skill set. And never will.

[JohnnyReb]

SNOB! ....HA

This is how Obama views himself.

http://www.moonbattery.com/archives/2010/10/open-thread-816.html#comments

[DumbAss Tanker]

Poor India. They have enough problems as it is.

For anyone who's ever had to call tech support, it's hard to feel any pity for them on this.

[Karin]

Thanks, MSB, great article.  Wish they invited comments. 

[dandi]

If the TEA Party sweeps a major portion of the available seats and takes-out several prominent dems we can only wonder how a narcissistic ego might react. More vacations as he lapses into denial and escapism? Abuse of power to bully critics and by-pass oversight?

President Obama reveals in a magazine article that he is weighing what to do if Republicans win the House majority next month, and has come up with a novel approach: Make the GOP work with him.

In a seeming twist on the post-1994 midterm calculation made by President Bill Clinton -- when Republicans pummeled Democrats in the congressional election -- Obama said he thinks Republicans will have to move in his direction no matter the outcome of the Nov. 2 vote.

 

[true_blood]

India could do us a huge favor and keep him.

Yes they can!