"Celebrity Guest!"

Many years ago, in the land of “black and white”, there was a show called “What’s My Line?” The show’s premise was that a group of celebrity panelists would question a guest and try to figure out what he or she did for a living. The last guest on the show was always a celebrity and the panelists were always blindfolded while they questioned the celebrity. Most of the celebrities tried to disguise their voices with high pitched squeals or false baritone growls. It was fun to see John Wayne try to disguise his most recognizable voice, and the audience would invariably erupt with laughter.

Some people are very easy to identify. Jay Leno has his famous “jaw”; David Letterman “parts his teeth”; Sly Stallone has his “muscles” and Donald Trump has his “unusual hair-do”.

Some people are identified by their speech: Ray Romano has a heavy New York accent and Andy Griffith has his Southern drawl and the late Desi Arnaz had his Cuban accent. Muhammad Ali was well known by his braggadocio; Kareem Abdul Jabbar is known by his height and Jackie Gleason was known for his girth.

The more we see of people, the more identifiable they become to us. Certain physical and vocal traits become so obvious, we know they can only be identified with one person. Sometimes a statement, even when we don’t know the speaker, will be enough of a “signature” that we can identify the words with the individual. Sometimes personality shows through, even when we don’t know the name.

We have all heard people of influence speak, especially during an election year. Politicians, businessmen and entertainers have filled our ears and our airwaves touting one person or another.

I am going to give you some quotes and observations, and let’s see if you can play “What’s My Line?” and figure out who this person really is; it can be male or female, and has lived or is living within the last 80 years. Here we go!

“I believe in my success. I believe in it unconditionally.”

Never allow the public to cool off

Never admit fault or wrong

Never concede that there may be some good in your enemy

Never leave room for alternatives

Never accept blame

Concentrate on one enemy at a time and blame him for everything that goes wrong

A low tolerance for criticism, an inability to express gratitude, a tendency to belittle, bully and blame others (personality observation from an M.D.)

“Since the events of last year, his faith in his own genius, in his instinct, or as one might say, in his star, is boundless. Those who surround him are the first to admit that he now thinks himself infallible and invincible. That explains why he can no longer bear either criticism or contradiction.” (This statement quoted from a close political confidant)

How are you doing so far? Are you adding up the quotes and statements? Who can this individual be? Do these things remind you of someone who has dominated the political scene?

The answer may sound like it should be American President Barack Hussein Obama, but here is the BIG SURPISE!! These words and observations belong to Adolf Hitler; they were taken from statements by those who knew him and secret documents assembled by the O.S.S. during a 1934 study of Hitler’s psychological profile.

You can draw your own conclusions about this “game” you just played, and apply them to your next decision when November rolls around. Is it possible for two men to share the same personality traits? Hmmm?