A Tale of Two Narcissists

You probably know a "Katie." She talks about herself nonstop, forever boasting and gloating. When you try to get a word in edgewise, Katie immediately returns the conversation back to herself.

There's nothing she can't do. There's no compliment or accomplishment that she doesn't flaunt. But when you're in a jam or need a shoulder to cry on, Katie is nowhere in sight. And should you inadvertently insult her, Katie will cut you off without blinking an eye.

Katie is annoying. But Lauren is another beast entirely.

Like Katie, Lauren is relentlessly self-absorbed and lacks empathy. But while Katie is not out to get you, Lauren means to cause you real harm.

Lauren likes to elevate herself to a pedestal all her own. She does this by undermining people and stealing their thunder. Lauren particularly relishes publicly humiliating and degrading others.

Relentlessly competitive, she'll destroy anyone who gets in her way. Because Lauren is cunning (and she looks so good), she can easily outsmart and manipulate others.

Here's an example of Lauren: as my colleague, she was jealous of my professional success. Consequently, she tried to drive me out of the job, talking trash behind my back and sabotaging my projects. Without a hint of a conscience, she was out to ruin me.

This is a tale of two narcissists, yet one is much more dangerous than the other. Katie can react hostilely, but only when she feels attacked. But Lauren will, out of the blue and for no good reason, ravage other people.

Katie is a garden-variety narcissist. Lauren is something much more treacherous. She's a narcissist, but so much more.

The problem with the narcissist label is that it does not capture the full range of character disorders. Narcissism is, in fact, only one of many character defects. There are several others than can explain people like Lauren, such as paranoid, passive-aggressive, sociopathic, sadistic. Or this label may come even closer: an abuser.

Now, what are we seeing on the political scene these days? The Katies or the Laurens?

When Michelle Obama and her gal pals flew on a military jet so close to lower Manhattan that they sent the residents into full-blown Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, was that the behavior of a garden-variety narcissist?

When Eric Holder, honored with the appointment as Attorney General, chastised the nation about racism, was he acting like a Katie or a Lauren?

When Nancy Pelosi threatens to investigate opponents of the Ground Zero mosque, does she resemble a typical narcissist or something much more?

And when Obama badmouths this nation over and over, sides with Mexico against Arizona, even aligns himself with the United Nations to dress us down, is this simple narcissism?

Blessedly, there aren't that many Laurens in this world. People who make it their business to destroy you are uncommon. I think this is part of the reason why so many were hoodwinked by Obama and friends.

Numerous Obama voters had no idea what they were getting themselves (and us) into. They didn't understand what makes revolutionaries tick -- the defective consciences, the obsession with power at all costs.

Many liberals and independents thought they were voting for a nice, good-natured uniter and healer. They had no idea that a whole subculture existed of über-Laurens. They didn't understand that the Left has been patiently lying in wait for decades for the moment when they could seize power.

And now I see the fearful and puzzled faces of many liberals. They know something is wrong, but they have no idea what it is. The problem absolutely, positively couldn't be the Democratic Party. The Democrats are the party of the good guys, aren't they?

As a recovering liberal myself, I write to inform people and to warn. Beholding Obama and the darkness that swirled around him snapped me out of my lifelong trance.

My therapist's radar started blaring the moment Obama came on the scene. And each day, when Pelosi acts like a whacked-out queen and Obama whips up the masses, my radar roars like thunder. We have a government composed of Laurens. They don't bat an eye about spoiling and plundering.

Why do they do this? How can people be so cold of heart?

It's the nature of the beast. It's who they are and what they do.

Because the tragic thing about the Laurens of the world is this: Peel the layer off of their outer shell. Strip them of their false self. Remove the fake bravado and oozy charm.

And when you look deep inside, deep into their core, what do you see? You see nothing, nothing at all.

A frequent American Thinker contributor, Robin is a recovering liberal and a licensed psychotherapist in Berkeley. Check out Robin's new blog at robinofberkeley.com. Or you can e-mail her at robinofberkeley@hotmail.com.