...And Baby Makes 3...

I discussed Alec Baldwin in my post Celebrities and Narcissism on Sept. 24, 2006. Some of his film performances have been excellent, but good acting does not make a good person. To hear him talk, Alec is more intelligent than all of us, and certainly a better person. But in fact, he is not very smart at all. He compensates for his insecurity by claiming to be smarter and better than everyone, and by being demanding, controlling, and vindictive.

The recent release by TMZ of a voice mail from him to his eleven year old daughter, Ireland, shows how these characteristics get out of control.

According to TMZ, "An enraged Alec Baldwin unleashed a volcanic tirade of threats and insults on his 11-year-old daughter, Ireland, calling her a "thoughtless little pig," and bashing her mother Kim Basinger...After Ireland failed to answer her father's scheduled morning phone call from New York on April 11, Alec went berserk on her voice mail, saying "Once again, I have made an ass of myself trying to get to a phone," adding, "you have insulted me for the last time." Switching his train of thought, Baldwin then exercised his incredible parenting skills and took a shot at his ex-wife, declaring, 'I don't give a damn that you're 12-years-old or 11-years-old, or a child, or that your mother is a thoughtless pain in the ass who doesn't care about what you do.' The irate Baldwin went on to say, 'You've made me feel like s**t,' and threatened to 'straighten your ass out.' 'This crap you pull on me with this goddamn phone situation that you would never dream of doing to your mother,' screamed Baldwin, 'and you do it to me constantly over and over again.' Before hanging up, Baldwin warned the child, 'You better be ready Friday the 20th to meet with me.'"

I am not sure how long this link will actually work, but you can try to listen for your self here: Alec Baldwin's message

This man, who claims to be so brilliant, demonstrates his utter lack of self control and his total ineptness in dealing with people, especially in being a parent.

On Wednesday, Los Angeles County Superior Court commissioner Maren Nelson heard the tape and temporarily suspended Baldwin's visitation rights. A hearing is set for May 4.

To his credit, Baldwin later called and apologized for what he said. It is evident that six years of a messy divorce from Kim Bassinger have frustrated and angered him. Apparently Bassinger, who can also be vicious and vindictive, has been trying to alienate the child from her father. In addition, she allegedly leaked the recording to the public in violation of a court order. They have placed little Ireland square in the middle of their selfish battle for power, control, and retribution . If Kim and Alec were able to acknowledge their own weaknesses, and were willing to believe that a counselor could give them the knowledge and skills to overcome them, the child might not suffer. But both parents are too consumed with anger and bitterness, and too narcissistic to accept the fact that someone else could help.

The real victim, of course, is Ireland. She has learned from her father how to be controlling. She has learned from her mother how to be vindictive. She has learned from both that rage and angry language are weapons to be used with no restraint or control. And Alec has imbued her with the self-doubt that will cause her to become a narcissist just like him.