Italian PM Backs McCain: I Would No Longer Be Oldest Leader At G-8 Meeting

ROME — Republican John McCain has won the backing of at least one foreign leader, but not because of his experience in international affairs.

Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi likes McCain because of his age.

Berlusconi, at a news conference in Rome with President Bush, was asked who he wants to see as the next U.S. president.

"I cannot express any preference with regard to an electoral campaign going on in another country," Berlusconi began.

"However, I suppose I could express my own personal preference for one of the candidates: the Republican candidate," Berlusconi said. "And this is for a very selfish reason, and that is that I would no longer be the oldest person at the upcoming (Group of Eight summits), because McCain is a month older than me."

McCain turns 72 in August and would be the oldest man to become president. Ronald Reagan became president at age 69, but he served as president for eight years and was just a few weeks shy of his 78th birthday when he left office.

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Compiled by Jennifer Loven

Comments

[TrevorAlan]

Its obviously a joke, but even if taken seriously, a compliment from anyone in Italian Gov. is not a rigning endorsement.

Italians-- love your food, clothes, high end cars... you may need to work on that government cohesion though.

[politicalgenius]

The Conductor of the Double Talk Express is older than AIR

[javaman]

He also wouldn't be the only fascist.

[VivaZapata]

have you looked at the G8's composition? who amongst them isn't a fascist or at least a tool of fascistic interests?

[VivaZapata]

but he would still be the most subservient puppet to US and British corporate interests. italy, still carrying everyone else's soccer balls around?

[BluesDogLefty]

Dude, we have dirt in this country that is not as old as McSimp.

[Bond007]

It will not happen! Buscelloni will still be the oldest prez out there next year. We like our presidents young. Our president will be youthful, vibrant, intelligent and most of all, God loving. The man is a Christian along with his family,,, he loves Jesus and reveres the Lord God Almighty. WE LOVE HIM.

[ObamAtomic]

McCain turns 72 in August and would be the oldest man to become president.
Alzheimer disease,it occurs in people over 65 years old,
the disease can begin many years before it diagnosed,Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi beware.

[MSGH]

Of course, Berlusconi favours McCain--and not just because of age. The Italian premier is a right-wing multimillionaire (considered the richest man in Italy) who was once forced out of office because of corruption charges and bought his way back into office. He & McCain should get along just fine & have the same interests at heart.

[vippy]

there was no one in Italy who wanted that job and that is the truth. Berlusconi is a crook and he fits in well with the Bush Corruption.

[eden4barack08]

Berlusconi is well known for his off-colored, almost always offensive, always misunderstood and inappropriate attempt at comedy!

Nobody take him seriously please! This was not an endorsement!
He was 'cleverly/ cowardly' trying to 'appease' present company (Bush), while at the same time covering his ground, should Obama win in November, by calling McCain old.

Italy LOVES Obama!
Believe me, I 'm an American in Italy!

[jethrock]

People tend to forget that Reagan was losing his mind toward the middle of his second term. I'm not joking about the Alzheimer's but if anyone remembers the Iran-Contra hearings... He could not remember a damn thing.

McCain is already forgetting things from one day to the next... It is a serious concern.

[Daly]

Reagan was also caught on film sleeping or nodding off during some meetings.

http://www.inthesetimes.com/article/798/

[wanj]

I love the backhanded endorsement... it's not b/c McOld is so wonderfully experienced as he'd like retards to believe, it's b/c he's older than him! Oh, I have never celebrated a McLame endorsement, but this is worth celebrating. Thank you mister criminal for reminding everyone how old McOld is.... We've seen his old age show up over and over during this campaign and it's great to see the rest of the world has noticed too.

[robXdion]

Isn't this the criminal thug that disappeared for a while and came back to get elected? His chief reason for supporting McCain is he wants a "bucket list" partner?

[eden4barack08]

With all due respect, having studied in Italy and being familiar with this matter, I must say in his defense, that the whole 'criminal' issue has been a long drawn out smear campaign by the then 'communist' party, who had been in power unchallenged since post-war, when in 1992, this 'business man' came out and dared to offer a different party with him as president and actually won.
He's never been convicted, so in all fairness I would refrain from calling him a 'criminal'.
This is the third time the people have voted him into office, with landslide margins.
That may not mean much today, seeing as what happened to us with Bush, but I can say he did not use 'fear mongering' ,to get elected, if anything, it's been his really lame attempt at comedy, that has endeared him to the people that keep voting for him.
Anyway, his is definitely not an endorsement of Mcain, just clowning as he always does, sorta like clown Bush, except he hasn't led a country into war and disaster!

[Bluedog12]

Is this the guy that was dry humping a reporter last summer?

[eden4barack08]

Yeah, just one of a multitude of his lame attempts at comedy!

[AdamX]

Of course he does! He's a criminal!