There’s something about Obama

HAPPY Birthday, Mr President — the words famously purred by Marilyn Monroe to US president John F Kennedy on his 45th birthday in 1962.

But this week, almost five decades on, it’s President Barack Obama who’ll be accepting congratulations on reaching the half century mark.

The 44th president of the United States turns 50 on Thursday. And, as America’s first black president and one of the youngest men ever to occupy the White House, Obama has already secured his place in the history books alongside JFK as he blows out the candles on his milestone birthday cake.

At an age when some men traditionally descend into midlife crisis, Obama certainly has every reason to celebrate his 50th trip around the sun. He’s got the most powerful job on the planet, a stunning first lady Michelle and two doting daughters Malia (13) and Sasha (9) — not to mention all his own hair and teeth.

Slurping Guinness, pressing palms and kissing babies with characteristic charisma during his recent whistlestop tour of Ireland, it was clear that there’s something about Obama. So as he approaches the same age as other silver foxes George Clooney and Colin Firth, just what is it that the birthday boy’s got that so many other world leaders don’t?

“Obama is one of those rare breed of politician that has ‘it’ — a winning combination of intelligence, charm, good looks and approachability,” explains Wayne Cronin, a Dublin-based image consultant.

“John F Kennedy had it, Martin Luther King had it, Gandhi had it — and now Obama has it.

“People don’t look at him and see a multi-millionaire, Harvard Law graduate or best-selling author. They recognise an affable family man with a ‘can do’ attitude, megawatt smile and love of basketball. In terms of image, he’s a PR dream.”

Dancing to Beyoncé on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, joking with Jay Leno on late night TV and pushing back a campaign appearance to catch the last few minutes of Entourage, it’s fair to say that the hipster prez couldn’t be further from his Republican predecessor George Bush.

In a PR stunt that seems unimaginable for Enda Kenny, Nicolas Sarkozy or Silvio Berlusconi, Obama proved he’s down with the kids by fielding questions from Facebook users earlier this year.

“Obama has real rock star appeal,” adds PR expert Cronin. “Perhaps because of his youthful appearance, he reaches out to young people like few other politicians can. He has his finger on the pulse and is very much in touch with pop culture — but it’s not a cringe-worthy fake type of ‘cool’ either.”

Although Obama’s critics have accused him of being more concerned about his trendy image than the issues, the youth vote could prove pivotal to his 2012 re-election bid.

According to CBS, 19% of the voting population for the last presidential election was between 18-29 — 68% of whom turned out to give their support to Obama and the Democratic Party.

At a historic rally at College Green in Dublin in May, the part-Irish president gained another young fan.

Skerries student Jessica Walls (18) hit the headlines across the globe after she handed Obama her mobile phone to say ‘Hi’ to her speechless mum Glynis.

“He was walking down the path and he came up to me,” recalls Jessica, who’s currently awaiting her Leaving Cert results. “I had my mother on the phone and I just asked if I could put her on. He said, ‘Your daughter’s brilliant and she’s having a beautiful day and it’s beautiful out here and you have a good day too’.

“It was so surreal. I’m never throwing my phone away.”

Accountant Henry Healy (26), who spent four years paving the way for his famous eighth cousin’s visit to his ancestral home in Moneygall, wasn’t disappointed either.

“He’s not like any other politician,” reckons Healy, who’s been nicknamed ‘Henry VIII’ since supping a pint with the president.

“You look at the Irish politicians, it’s easy to go into a daydream — but Barack Obama has you focused.”

Meanwhile, for those close to the world’s most famous Offaly man this Thursday, they’re probably facing the difficult conundrum of what to buy the man who has everything. Earlier this week, in the midst of the debt-ceiling crisis — with Congress and the White House at a stalemate over the country’s borrowing limit, Obama himself joked that he’d like a “debt ceiling deal” for his birthday. In the meantime, he’s set to return home to Chicago for an elaborate birthday bash to raise funds for his re-election campaign, including a $50 ‘birthday concert’ tipped to star Jennifer Hudson, and a private dinner with the president with VIP tickets costing up to $38,500 per couple.

But fear of a backlash over the debt ceiling standoff has already forced the cancellation of two other birthday fundraisers in Washington.

Whatever about the national coffers, the president is taking turning the big 5-0 in typical ‘No Drama Obama’ style.

“You know, I feel real good about 5-0,” he said. “Obviously, I’ve gotten a little grayer since I took this job but otherwise, I feel pretty good.

“I don’t look that young anymore. I have bags under my eyes, but that core spirit is still there. And Michelle says that she still thinks I’m cute, you know ... I guess that’s all that matters, isn’t it?”

So is there anything Ireland’s leaders can learn from Barack Obama as he embraces middle-age?

“There’s a few guys in the Dáil who could definitely learn a thing or two from Obama’s charm,” says Terry Prone of the Communications Clinic. “Just look at Luke Ming Flanagan and Mick Wallace calling Mary Mitchell O’Connor ‘Miss Piggy’.”

In an online list of the world’s ‘Hottest Heads of State’, President Mary McAleese slumps into 87th position — and based on those currently in the race for the Áras, that ranking isn’t likely to improve much.

“There isn’t really anyone in Irish politics at the moment who has the loose-limbed cool of Obama,” agrees Prone.

“Although, having met him in the flesh when he was in Ireland, I have to say I was a little disappointed. Yes, he was charming and funny — but kind of looked like he was on autopilot.”

“Of those coming up the ranks, I think independent TD Dylan Haskins could be one to watch — he’s a gorgeous, bright kid with a smashing personality.”

And while he may not have the same street cred as his US counterpart, don’t underestimate ‘Inda’.

“I think Enda Kenny has surprised us all,” adds PR guru Prone.

“For a man of his age, he’s got incredible passion and energy. There’s nothing he won’t take on — whether it’s cycling the Ring of Kerry or climbing Kilimanjaro. And his Church-State speech in the Dáil recently surpassed any single speech given by Barack Obama so far.”

“Okay,” she admits, “you can’t exactly imagine him dancing to Beyoncé, I suppose.”