Berlusconi calls Obama 'tanned'

Posted By Blake Hounshell Thursday, November 6, 2008 - 12:51 PM Share

Guess we know who isn't getting the first White House visit:

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi today praised Barack Obama, saying the U.S. president-elect is "young, handsome and also tanned."

Berlusconi, speaking in Italian during a press conference with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev in Moscow, said he was sure he would get along well with Obama because he is "giovane, bello, e abbronzato."

Later, when he returned to his hotel, Berlusconi said his comment "was a big compliment," Italy's state news wire Ansa reported. "If some people don't have a sense of humor, then it's their problem," he said, according to Ansa. Only "imbeciles" would interpret his comments as derogatory, Berlusconi was quoted as saying by Ansa.

On the other hand, maybe Silvio could become vice president...

EXPLORE:EUROPE, OBAMA ADMINISTRATION
 

DAVID777

10:40 PM ET

November 6, 2008

The Fourth "Kight"

The three "Knights" are gone: Bush – Aznar – Howard. The fouth “knight” knows IMF, WB, WTO, the Corporate, the PNAC and the “Free Market” need a “man”. The word needs also a cross-cultural “Cicero” who understands the parties and their problems. Mr Obama may be that man, however the “Knigth” knows that a social democratic may sound good to people but he doesn’t have much of a chance in the real world of power and free market. The “Knight” thinks he has the formula to shake together in a cocktail, conservative, republican, democrats, socialism, monarchy, hyper-liberals and voilà… a new autarchic, ecumenical democracy with a new Marshall plan for ME and global peace and prosperity. He is self-confident and by nature a “political animal” with an instinctive sense of humor. He didn’t mean bad and he is not a racist! He just wants power and share his jokes – like Napoleon!

With my best wishes to Mr Obama, His family and USA.

http://www.politicaonline.net/forum/showthread.php?t=52342&page=14

 

ZORNACANGHI

10:52 PM ET

November 6, 2008

only my point of view

I think that only racist people can see the evil in berlusconi's words. The word abbronzato has the only mean of sun-tunned (coloured by sun like the bronze) and not the mean of hide tanned to make leather (the italian word for this is only conciare) . On the other hand I think that if some black Leaders of, for exemple, the african country, say to a white prime minister that he is young, handsome but just a bit pale no one calls they racist It's a joke.. the joke is for happy people.. not for unhappy..

I think also that Mr. Walter Veltroni didn't remember when, a few of years ago, in a march by demonstrators of the Italian leftwigs, his allies, burns an American Flag. For these I really feel ashamed to be Italian, not for a joke..

 

LULY

4:39 PM ET

November 7, 2008

I didn't think that what

I didn't think that what Berlusconi said was funny and I just want to apologize to have such a "not funny" Prime Minister. I really hope that sooner or later here in Italy the people will have the same strenght that Americans had to make such a big change. I am tired of having a comedian instead of a politician...

 

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