Advertising

The Seattle Times Company

NWjobs | NWautos | NWhomes | NWsource | Free Classifieds | seattletimes.com

The Seattle Times

Nation & World


Our network sites seattletimes.com | Advanced

Originally published Saturday, November 8, 2008 at 12:00 AM

Comments (3)     E-mail article     Print view

Leader likes Obama's tan, but Italians don't like joke

Italians never quite know whether to laugh or cry at Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi. But many reacted with incredulity and outrage after the prime minister, visiting Moscow on Thursday, amiably called the first African-American president-elect in U.S. history "young, handsome and sun-tanned."

The New York Times

ROME — Italians never quite know whether to laugh or cry at Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi. But many reacted with incredulity and outrage after the prime minister, visiting Moscow on Thursday, amiably called the first African-American president-elect in U.S. history "young, handsome and sun-tanned."

Berlusconi made the remark while meeting President Dmitri Medvedev of Russia, saying that Sen. Barack Obama's good looks, his youth and his so-called suntan were "all the qualities" for Medvedev and the future president to "develop a good working relationship."

Many Italian newspapers gave the comment nearly as much front-page attention as Obama's victory itself. Journalist Curzio Maltese wrote in the center-left La Repubblica that "bookmakers wouldn't even take bets" on how long it would take for Berlusconi to let slip another of his famous gaffes.

"Mr. Berlusconi never fails to live up to our worst expectations."

A billionaire populist, Berlusconi said that his remark had been "a compliment" and that his critics lacked irony.

"If you want to get a degree in idiocy, I won't stop you," La Repubblica quoted him as saying. "I say whatever I think."

He said the Italian left was wrong about everything, "including their lack of a sense of humor." He added: "Too bad for them. God save us from imbeciles."

The episode raised a question: Why, of all the problems Italy is facing, would Berlusconi get more attention for his off-the-cuff remark than for his political program?

"Because it's the last straw," said a political commentator, Beppe Severgnini.

"By now, Berlusconi isn't a political case; he's a psychological case."

Berlusconi's remark "wasn't racist; it was infantile and untimely," he added. "He has such a high opinion of himself that he thinks it's acceptable to say anything to anyone."

On Friday, Italy's leading daily newspaper, Corriere della Sera, ran an illustrated display of Berlusconi's most infamous gaffes. In 2002, he said that Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen of Denmark was "so handsome I'm thinking of introducing him to my wife."

Copyright © 2008 The Seattle Times Company

More Nation & World headlines...

E-mail article Print view      Share:    Digg     Newsvine

Comments
But they aren't billionaires.  Posted on November 8, 2008 at 12:55 PM by _Mikey_. Jump to comment
We have lots of people here who speak before they think. They have them there, too.  Posted on November 8, 2008 at 5:09 AM by BigChanges. Jump to comment
"We have lots of people here who speak before they think" Yes we call them Politicians and Bloggers.  Posted on November 8, 2008 at 8:45 AM by romeomoon. Jump to comment

advertising

A Bing deal for Microsoft, News Corp.?

Amazon, Wal-Mart escalate Web price war

UPDATE - 08:03 AM
6.8-magnitude quake rattles Tonga

8 charged in probe of terrorism-recruiting network in U.S.

Hate crimes against gays, religious groups up, FBI says

Advertising

Video

PNW Magazine | Easy As Pie
A little friendly competition between professional pie-baker Kate McDermott and The Seatttle Times' Kathleen Triesch Saul is handled with great taste.

Real Salt Lake wins MLS Cup
Raw Video | Real Salt Lake fans celebrate
Raw Video | Real Salt Lake receives the MLS Cup trophy
Real Salt Lake fans enter Qwest Field
Raw Video | MLS Cup Opening Ceremony
LA Galaxy's David Beckham
Real Salt Lake's Kyle Beckerman
MLS trophy arrives in Seattle
Chittenden Locks Inspection

Marketplace

 
Most read
Most commented
Most e-mailed
 
 
Advertising