“As democracy is perfected, the office of the President represents, more and more closely, the inner soul of the people. On some great and glorious day, the plain folks of the land will reach their heart’s desire at last, and the White House will be occupied by a downright fool and a complete narcissistic moron.” – H.L. Mencken, 1880-1956
The narcissism of the current occupant of the White House, well known to the nearly 74 million people who voted for him earlier this month, almost makes one forget the self-absorption of his predecessor.
But former President Barack Obama is back to remind us with the first volume – first volume! – of his third memoir, which was released last week.
The 44th president, in so many words, calls those who voted for President Donald Trump racists and chalks their votes up solely to him being Black.
“It was as if my very presence in the White House had triggered a deep-seated panic, a sense that the natural order had been disrupted,” Obama writes. “For millions of Americans spooked by a Black man in the White House, he promised an elixir for their racial anxiety.”