The metaphor is simple. President Obama tricked us. If we put aside the obvious political intent for a moment we can derive some answers to questions about this expression. Broadly, what are the levers of influence that are being pulled and what are the implications? Specifically, will this campaign gain traction?
The Levers of Influence
Our six intuitive roles are: Father – Mother – Child – Trickster – Wise Old Man – Hero. This a well researched continuum with specific values, fears, philosophies , etc. associated with each. We all intuitively understand this at some level. Jung proved that a century ago. The Hoye Mastery Center added some additional structure and research to this knowledge making it a powerful analytical tool.
President Obama was elected as a ‘Wise Old Man’. He was expected to bring reasoned, principled, and independent action to the Oval Office. This was an important contrast to President Bush who had been cast as a ‘fool’ (a form of the Trickster). But President Obama is not naturally a ‘Wise Old Man’. He is naturally a ‘Hero’, a doer, a man on a mission to remake and reshape America into something different: his vision of America. As a result, his aggressive approach to change and rapid timelines is not delivering the feeling that was expected by many of his supporters.
I use the word ‘feeling’ with specific intent. Many if not most of his supporters agreed with his stated rational policy plans. If that is the case, then why the plunging poll numbers? It really is quite simple once you have the tool to view the situation. He is not making people feel the way they wanted him to make them feel when he was elected. He is not satisfying their emotional hungers the way they thought he would.
Of course, all of the conversation is about specific policy actions, or legislative ham-handedness but these are just rationalizations. And this Joker poster proves the previous statement.
Portraying President Obama as a Joker converts him from role of ‘Wise Old Man’ to that of ‘Trickster’. The “socialism” claim is barely relevant to the lever of influence that is being activated.
Implications
The primary implication will be an erosion of trust. The Trickster role is about being absurd, contrary, mocking, and unpredictable. President Obama has behaved in a way that makes this claim credible. He recently inserted himself into petty squabbles among private citizens. (The President and Leader of the 300 million citizens of The United States looks petty when he gets publicly involved in the misdemeanor arrest of a single citizen). He mocked the police. He then had to contradict himself appearing unmeasured and looking unpredictable.
This is not him at his best. Again, he is a ‘Hero’. He is impelled to action. But the current lack of focus is making him a target for this type of ridicule.
The secondary implication is that his vision for the country won’t be taken seriously. The Trickster is not widely respected as a visionary. His role is extremely important in pointing out the absurdity of the vision of others (think Dennis Miller) but it is rare when a Trickster is widely respected as a visionary.
Prediction
This campaign will continue to gain traction because it is connecting with the fact that the expectations of his supporters are not being met. Specifically, they are not feeling the way that they expected to feel about his presidency.
With time, he will become recognized for his natural role as a Hero and that his mission is aggressive. This will be rationalized as “visionary” by his die-hard supporters, but ultimately will be out of balance with the emotional needs of most Americans and will greatly diminish, likely irrecoverably, the chances of Obama being re-elected for a second term. This opens the door for a Father, or possibly a less-aggressive, more experienced Hero, to have a good chance at winning and, importantly, being recorded in history as a tremendous success if they present themselves authentically.
Analysis
| If someone’s intuitive natural role is as a… | When they supported Obama they expected to feel… | But instead they feel… |
| Father | He would take reasoned, independent approaches to major issues facing our nation | He is creating a lack of stability… (very unnerving for the Father role) |
| Mother | That he would bring us together and begin to heal divisions in the country | That his aggressiveness is hurting relationships and making it more difficult to create positive connections |
| Child | Secure and taken care of | This doesn’t feel safe and I don’t know where my protection is |
| Trickster | That he provides potential for disruption to the status quo | Enjoying the fact that they were accurate |
| Wise Old Man | He is one of us and will provide clear vision of future without worrying about petty obstacles | He is getting bogged down and is losing his sense of purpose |
| Hero | We have a new mission and are taking our country in a great new direction | We might fail early and I don’t like surprises |
