Move to the music with Barack Obama

Politicians can never win when it comes to coolness. Barack Obama's recent declaration that: "I'm sort of hip to the younger stuff. You know, like Beyonce's 'Crazy in Love.' That's a good song to dance to," sounded cringeful in the extreme. It could be forgiven, however, on the grounds that it was a spontaneous response to a supporter's question.

But what is really unforgiveable is trying to be cool. It will never work. This piece in the New York Daily News claims that Obama's post-rally bash in NYC will be full of hot young singletons. It transcribes the invitation, which reads:

"Hope hits the Big Apple! Join us at Jay-Z's 40/40 Club on Thursday as we ride the winds of change from the hottest rally in New York. Move to the music, socialize with friends, and let your voice be heard as we celebrate with audacity."

See what they've done! They've worked The Audacity of Hope into the party invitation, mentioning it in the same breath as the rapper Jay-Z, dancing and celebrating. And managed to make all those things sound contrived, hyper-spun and very, very uncool.

Alice Fordham