Lengthy but interesting analysis. However, in the case of Obama, I'd say this goes a step further because Obama really has no legitimate title to the "African American" claim. He is half white, his father was a foreign born Muslim graduate student, and he was brought up by well-off whites either in foreign countries or in a comfortable environment in Hawaii. He has nothing in common with a genuine "African American." He doesn't even look black.
But because he is such a loony and does in deed have hang ups, he has had to make a choice to define himself as "African American." This means that he has to work at it, he has to be much more vigilant to maintain this fiction, and he has to maintain it publicly at all times.
It is clear that Obama never lets this rest for a moment - because he can't. It's an essential part of his confused and fragile self-image.
Bingo!
This guy has more issues than Sports Illustrated.
Watching him on the couch with a shrink would be a real trip.