Italian leader: Obama "handsome and even tanned"

[KamaAina]

Source: AP via Yahoo! News

Italy's famously impolitic Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi described U.S. President-elect Barack Obama on Thursday as "young, handsome and even tanned."

Berlusconi appeared to be joking about America's first black president at a news conference following talks with Russia's president....

Italy's only black lawmaker, Jean-Leonard Touadi, called Thursday's comment embarrassing.

"In the United States, a joke like that wouldn't just be politically incorrect, but a great offense to this amazing example of integration, which it seems the Italian premier should take as an example," Touadi said.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081106/ap_on_re_eu/eu_russ...

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Joking? That was so funny I forgot to laugh...

[liberalmuse]

1. I guess W isn't the only fucktard in power.

Jeez, no wonder they get along so well.

[qanda]

2. I'm black and think it's funny, in a disarming sort of way

But I guess I've become a little less sensitive since Tuesday.

[Indenturedebtor]

8. Am I wierd/wrong for having said basically the same thing?

I think that white people pretty much universally think tans are a good thing.

[LeftishBrit]

18. You're right - the problem isn't really the remark in itself, but its being made by Berlusconi

Who is a well-known far-rightie and racist/ anti-immigrant bigot, so that anything that came out of his mouth on the subject would look suspect. He is also crooked as twenty corkscrews, and would have been in jail long ago, if not for parliamentary immunity AND the fact that he owns most of the Italian media. He's a disgrace to the EU.

[The Wielding Truth]

10. Didn't you think it was kind of sweet? I thought he was being

playful. After all, Barack isn't really that dark. Many Italian's esp. Sicilians are just about as dark.

Silly, to make a fuss.

Barack is American, and our Presidents don't always look white anymore!

Yay!

[ContraBass Black]

13. I'm black, and I agree.

The first thing I thought of was some cartoon I saw years ago in which the dark brown father of an albino seal said jokingly to the dark brown mother, " and see if you can bring him back with a decent tan."

[psychopomp]

16. Evenly-tanned, here, and I also think it is okay

Americans are hypersensitive; not without reason, of course, but it is not healthy. Since when is being handsome and evenly-tanned anything but a compliment in Italy?

[WriteDown]

20. I thought it was pretty funny too....

And I am a couple of shades darker than most.

[Bilyb]

3. That war is over.

Racism lost. The best country in the world has a president that just happens to have black skin...... Granted he does look good!

[rch35]

4. sticks and asses do not mix, everyone. lighten up nt

[plaintiff]

5. Heh...well said. There's way too much outrage "on behalf" of somebody else

around here.

[rch35]

15. i've noticed. it gets out of hand sometimes, haha nt

[chollybocker]

6. Berlusconi will soon be replacing Bush as the G7's dumbest leader.

[ACTION BASTARD]

7. Funny, in my part of the Bronx, Italians have always had problems with blacks too.

So the whole race hating thing is cultural?

[camera obscura]

9. Berlusconi makes Bush look like Abraham Lincoln

and Clinton look like a monk.

[MagicKenny]

11. If It's a Jab At the Right, It's Funny...

...if not, Berlusconi needs to be slapped upside the head with a pimento loaf. Doofus.

[NOLALady]

12. It doesn't seem offensive to me.

I always enjoyed it when someone on the beach yelled, "How'd you get such a great tan?" I usually responded with something like...I made a wise choice of parents.

[bemildred]

14. Obama thanks "petite and peppy" Italian leader. nt

[LeftishBrit]

17. LeftishBrit: Berlusconi stupid, near-fascist, and even a crook who should be in jail!

[mimitabby]

19. my Italian cousins

They specifically asked me what his ethnicity was, they did not know. And many Italians, not just Sicilians,
are darker than President Elect Obama is. I hate to "stick up" for Burlesconi, who really is an * wannabe, but
not everyone (in Europe) knows all the details nor our sensibilities.

[WriteDown]

21. Kudo's to you and your sticking up for Sicilians....

We don't get much respect in Italy. Of course I am only half.

[alexgg]

22. Berlusconi //Obama

Before to define stupid Berlusconi all US people should consider what the did on the past and with Iraq and Afghanistan.
I'm sure US should apologize with all country about they president and one more big fault !!

I'm italian, Berlusconi is our PM and up then 60% of italians is with him !!!

Have a good luck for next 4 years!!!

Alex