Our Troops Are Not Fighting For The One

The most startling aspect of President Barack Obama's flip-lop on gay marriage is his slip about exactly for whom he thinks American troops are fighting.  Obama told ABC,

when I think about those soldiers or airmen or marines or sailors who are out there fighting on my behalf and yet feel constrained, even now that Don't Ask Don't Tell is gone, because they are not able to commit themselves in a marriage, at a certain point I've just concluded that for me personally it is important for me to go ahead and affirm that I think same sex couples should be able to get married.

(Emphasis added.)

It's a revelatory comment.  No doubt all those soldiers, airmen, marines and soldiers were shocked to learn that they are fighting on behalf of Obama. Most of them thought that they were fighting for America, for the citizens of our country and most specifically for their friends, families and neighbors.

Obama's self-absorption is something to behold, even in the context of a profession that draws narcissists.  Nonetheless, this peak into his mind is astonishing for its utter lack of modesty.  The most charitable construction is that soldiers fight for their country, and Obama feels that he epitomizes or symbolizes America.  That's still pretty grandiose.

We knew that Obama is a narcissist just as we knew he has always supported gay marriage. Neither of these propositions is in any way surprising.

Still, the assertion that our soldiers are fighting "on my [Obama's] behalf "does not sound like something the elected leader of a democracy should think, let alone say. It sounds dictatorial.  And creepy.