Psychologist Confirms It: Martha Dean is a Politician.
The Hartford Courant runs a long piece this morning on Republican attorney general candidate Martha Dean’s years of battling over the custody of her child. Like any extended, combative dispute between parents over a child, the documents make for uncomfortable reading.
The file includes an unsealed evaluation of Ms. Dean by a psychologist. It’s not complimentary if you are describing a parent. It reads, however, as a run-of-the-mill definition of a politician at any level of modern politics. Our ballots would be empty in many spots if this description disqualified candidates from public office:
“In spite of her attempts to be poised, controlled and dominant in interactions, Ms. Dean evidences a significant fear of external criticism or disapproval and a marked concern about interpersonal slight, rejection or exploitation,” Dr. Anne Phillips, a court-appointed psychologist, wrote in a lengthy 2004 evaluation. “The emphasis which she places on public approval and recognition, as well as on adherence to firmly structured principles leaves her somewhat hyper vigilant and interpersonally reactive, especially when she feels at all threatened.”
The only departure from most politicians is the note about her “adherence to firmly structured principles…..” It sounds like that’s a criticism. I suppose it depends on what those principles are.
There is a cultural note showing the divisiveness of our times can mar family life. The parties went to court over where the child would go to camp one summer. The father wanted to let him attend the camp at the Talcott Mountain Science Center. Dean weighed in with Boy Scout camp and a gun course. No mention of any rows over MSNBC v. Fox News.
6 comments
It is a disgraceful article that has nothing to do with the AGs race and is clearly designed to be a political hit job on Ms Dean. It does though clearly show the courant for what it is, a gutter politics paper. Ned
Ned — I completely agree with you. Not relevant.
The Courant has had it in for Dean since she announced. I read the piece and said, “So?” This isn’t the 1930’s. THREE QUARTERS of Connecticut’s residents have something to do with a family court at some point in their lives. This has nothing to do with the AG’s race, no matter how much the Courant tries to “hide behind that chicken wire fence”. They must know that Martha Dean is the BEST candidate for AG, and are just using the power of the press to affect the outcome through diversion. What a piece of trash the Courant, (and their staff) has become!
[…] Psychologist Confirms It: Martha Dean is a Politician. — Daily Ructions […]
This reeks of a need for two things –
1) Actual discussion of issues
2) A Daubert Motion
Roger – You claim that 75% of CT residents have “something” to do with family court at some point in there lives. Really? Source this please or you are full of crap.