By Mark L. Taylor
The Commoner Call (1/6/20)
Psychological projection is an unconscious defensive behavior in which those with troubled and weak personalities angrily and snidely accuse others of the very weaknesses they can’t face in themselves. Donald Trump is a naked poster boy of the phenomenon.
This past week Trump’s psychological projections were broadcast worldwide with his ordered assassination of Iranian Maj. Gen. Qassem Soleimani, leading to well-founded fears of renewed war in the Middle East.
Throughout Barack Obama’s presidency Trump launched tweets accusing Obama of what he himself is now doing. In the process, he projected his own personal fears and weaknesses onto Obama, including:
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“…he has absolutely no ability to negotiate. He’s weak and he’s ineffective.”
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“In order to get elected…”
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“…poll numbers are in tailspin … He is desperate.”
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“…play the Iran card in order to start a war in order to get elected…”
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“…attack Iran in order to save face!”
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“…attack Iran in order to show how tough he is.”
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“…attack Iran because of his inability to negotiate properly-not skilled!”
Trump’s Obama/Iran Tweets Broadcast His Own Inner Demons:
Nov. 16, 2011: “Our president will start a war with Iran because he has absolutely no ability to negotiate. He’s weak and he’s ineffective. So the only way he figures that he’s going to get reelected — and as sure as you’re sitting there — is to start a war with Iran.”
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Nov. 29, 2011: “In order to get elected, @BarackObama will start a war with Iran.”
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Oct. 9. 2012: “Now that Obama’s poll numbers are in tailspin – watch for him to launch a strike in Libya or Iran. He is desperate.”
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Oct. 22, 2012: “Don’t let Obama play the Iran card in order to start a war in order to get elected–be careful Republicans!”
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Sept. 16, 2013: “I predict that President Obama will at some point attack Iran in order to save face!”
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Sept. 25, 2013: “Remember what I previously said–Obama will someday attack Iran in order to show how tough he is.”
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Nov. 10, 2013: “Remember that I predicted a long time ago that President Obama will attack Iran because of his inability to negotiate properly-not skilled!”
(Commoner Call cartoon by Mark L. Taylor, 2018. Open source and free for non-derivative use with link to www.thecommonercall.org )