It is interesting to analyze politicians by Birth Order.  In this newsletter I want to analyze the presidential candidates, Barack Obama and John McCain.

Barack Obama should be an Only Child in personality because the half-sister with whom he was raised was about ten years younger than he was.  But he is an exception to Birth Order because he is not an Only but a Fourth Born in personality.  He might have become Fourth Born because his mother was Fourth Born and under stress when he was about two so she could have created Fourth Born in him and, since his father left when he was about three, his mother probably was under stress.   Or, he could have become Fourth Born under the influence of a Third Born in a baby sitting situation. 

How do I know that he is a Fourth Born?  The clearest indicator is his analytical thinking reflected in his speeches.  An Only will talk about reorganizing things like T. Boone Pickens when he talks about reorganizing how we use energy or give anecdotes like Bill Clinton.  A First Born expresses his own opinions, ideas and experiences like Bush or McCain.  A Second Born speaks with authority as Reagan did when he said "Gorbachev, tear down this wall."  A Third Born seeks to motivate his audience by addressing feelings.  A Fourth Born analyzes and shares his analyses as Obama does.

What are some Fourth Born behaviors we can see in Obama?  We see him reason with people to get them to work together, witness how he has gotten people working together  for his campaign.  He does not reveal much of his inner feelings, opinions, ideas, experiences or thoughts.  He does not make commitments easily because he continues to analyze - making a commitment means he has to stop analyzing the options.

John McCain has a First Born personality although he has an older sister and a younger brother.  His mother might have had help when he was born so that his sister remained an Only because she did not feel the loss of attention to the baby.  He would have become First Born when his younger sibling was born.  As a First Born, McCain shares his beliefs, ideas, experiences and intentions with First Born assurance that they will impress others.  In dealing with others he tends to use power rather than rely on reason, for example in campaigning against Obama he ignores Obama's thinking but attacks his actions.

You can expect them, as president, to continue acting out of their Birth Orders.  Obama will reason with people to get them working together.  McCain will assert the power of the office of president to get things done.   In foreign relations Obama will negotiate to get nations to work together, McCain will negotiate after he has asserted power such as demanding that Iran stop nuclear development.

In Obama and McCain you have an opportunity to learn about Birth Order thinking by thinking about their speeches and actions.   You'll get to see Birth Order strategies used to promote their campaigns, how they deal with each other and how people reaction to their Birth Orders behaviors.  You'll see Obama get accused of not being open about himself and McCain of being unfair in his use of power.   Hopefully, you will see one or both overcome Birth Order limitations in their pursuit of the presidency.  Politics can become your laboratory to study Birth Order behavior.

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