From Hillary Clinton hanging out with Lena Dunham to Bernie Sanders dancing on the Ellen show, attempts to win the youth vote often are cringe-worthy
As we get nearer to the actual election year in the US, as opposed to the endless preamble of the last 12 months, we must prepare ourselves for an unpalatable sight: that of politicians trying to ingratiate themselves with young people, and young people trying to be fun in the general direction of politicians.
It’s a kind of two-way youthsplaining that, as far as I can tell, never works out well for anyone. “Do you consider yourself a feminist?” asked Lena Dunham of Hillary Clinton the other week, with a Shirley Temple-like combo of coyness and complete self-possession. “Yes, absolutely!” said Clinton and they both giggled, while the ghost of Mary Wollstonecraft shuddered violently and cancelled her subscription to Lenny.
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