Turning up the Gas

The term “gaslighting” has become popular; perhaps it has become overused. But if you want a clear, classic case of gaslighting, see Joe Biden’s recent belated condemnation of violence in the streets.

"The deadly violence we saw overnight in Portland is unacceptable. Shooting in the streets of a great American city is unacceptable. I condemn this violence unequivocally. I condemn violence of every kind by any one, whether on the left or the right."

"And I challenge Donald Trump to do the same."

Trump and the Republicans have been calling on Biden to condemn the violence for months. Trump has been offering federal assistance to stop it. Both Trump and Mike Pence called for it to end, and for Biden to condemn it, in speeches at the just-concluded Republican convention. And he has been silent. Kamala Harris, and members of his campaign staff, have been publicly encouraging continuing “demonstrations,” and covering bail for those arrested.

Up is down, right is wrong, lies are truth, and truth is lies.

Biden is a classic narcissist. A narcissist will gaslight automatically, robotically, and will accuse the victim or accuser of whatever they have been doing.

You see it now on the left consistently. There is no good faith there.

But “narcissist” is just modern psychological terminology for what would classically be called a “vicious” person—that is, a person who has developed a vice. It helps clarity if that is understood; not to uses the proper term is doing the Devil’s will. The Devil needs misdirection.

One vice leads to another, so “vicious” tends to develop its more common meaning. For the left as a whole, the original sin, I maintain, is lust, and abortion. But that has led as well to envy, and so to embracing Marxist dogmas; to deceit, wrath, and the rest, to varying degrees.

But even well-meaning, glad-handing old “Uncle Joe”? Everybody likes Uncle Joe, and everybody claims he is a nice guy in private. His apparent harmlessness may be the primary reason he suddenly became the Democratic nominee.

But he was never harmless. Everyone who knew him thought the same of John Wayne Gacy. The Devil is a gentleman. He is not so stupid as to appear as some ravening monster.

Being liked by all is not a good character reference. It only suggests cunning, and lack of principle. A truly good man will be fiercely disliked by many.