Does mental illness disqualify Mitt Romney from holding the office of President?

Romney is an exceptionally rich and powerful man. And power does funny things to the brain. One consequence power and the lack of empathy and egocentricity it can trigger,  is that it inclines us to see people as a means to our ends—more as instruments of our own goals. Deborah Gruenfeld and colleagues at Stanford University have found evidence ...

The Mayo Clinic indicates the following traits are associated with antisocial personality disorder (also known as sociopath):

• Using charm or wit to manipulate others
• Abusive relationships
• Aggressive or violent behavior
• Intimidation of others
• Disregard for right and wrong
• Impulsive behavior

The Post article cited a number of former students who said they witnessed Mr Romney leading a posse to hack off the long blond hair of a fellow student as he lay pinned to the ground, crying and screaming for help.

Sociopaths lack of empathy about policies and events that may cause harm to others.

• Repeatedly violating the rights of others
• Lack of remorse about harming others
• Child neglect

On 1st February this year, Mr Romney’s nomination campaign had a major hiccup when he said on CNN to interviewer Soledad O’Brien ‘I’m not concerned about the very poor’.

... even the adult Romney brain seems sometimes to show little empathy ...