The Anxiety of Influence?

Is there any other way to explain the GOP reaction to Obama's bold move last week to advocate for Gay Marriage? The Anxiety of Influence, of course, is Harold Bloom's theory of how post-Enlightenment poets (and even earlier ones like Shakespire in his subsequent works) were unduly influenced by the predecessors and thus often created derivative work. This appears to be the position of many Republicans, who are actually complaining that Obama is making cultural matters an issue in an election that should be about the economy and jobs. My favorite quote comes from Texas Senator John Conyers: “President Obama brought this issue up because he wants to — he can’t run on his record, let’s put it that way. And so he’s trying to raise divisive issues up to solidify his base and to divide the country. And that isn’t what we should be focusing on now. We should be focusing on jobs and the economy.” (TPM).


If there has ever been a more apt example of the pot calling the kettle black? Republicans have been using this strategy for over 20 years, as many including Thomas Franks have highlighted. And now they must be worried that the bold move might play well with independents. I'm less convinced and wonder why Obama would step in now, but who knows? He needs to build a convincing narrative for reelection and confront Romney's endless attacks. Maybe what he has done in an odd way is made the issue moot, except among those who would never vote for him to begin with. Nonetheless, for the Republicans to say that we should only talk about the economy and jobs is something Obama should embrace. If the Ryan plan and Romney's record as a businessman are all we need compete against, I can't see Obama losing. Just to clarify, here is my best understanding of what Republicans want:


1.  Lower taxes for the wealthy, who will magically start hiring people again, even as the last 93% of $218 billion they made last year did little toward that end. Maybe an extra trillion will do the job?
2.  Cut more social services, letting the poor go it alone and allowing our education system to get even worse.
3.  Cut regulation so that corporations can take even more liberties with our ecological and person futures. 
4.  Go back to the Bush doctrine on foreign affairs.
5.  Do nothing to stimulate business except presume that the invisible hand will work its magic after a four-year hiatus. 


Makes sense, really. At least in the hyperreal, spectacle, ahistorical world in which far too many conservatives appear to live today.