Berlusconi: I'm 'Paler' Than Obama

Telegraph:

Silvio Berlusconi, the Italian prime minister who drew criticism last year when he described Barack Obama as "suntanned", rejected a comparison of the two leaders' approaches to the global economic crisis by saying: "I'm paler".

Read the whole story: Telegraph

Comments

[BeFairNow]

02:31 PM on 03/27/2009

Yes Silvio, we know. You've said this over and over. Have you nothing else to say in regard to President Obama or are 'tanned' and 'paler' the two main words in your vocabulary?

[HelleneAtheist]

02:22 PM on 03/27/2009

Berlusconi is a disgrace for homo sapiens...

[Morpheus008]

10:18 AM on 03/27/2009

This man is very insecure and all of his money can neither disguise or overcome this deep fear. Its not the first time he has publicly made these comments. One can only imagine what he says privately but he has deep issues with race. Italy's treatment of African and brown skinned immigrants is reflective of his preoccupation with Obama's looks and skin color. Unfortunately for him, there he nothing his money can do about it and much of the world is looking for leadership, not racial litmus tests. He is a sad scared dinosaur.

[signwrite]

09:47 AM on 03/27/2009

camorra.

[Hedonist88]

03:53 AM on 03/27/2009

Poor chap just sounds jealous Obama came from nowhere, without billions like the Italian PM and became a world wide star.

Charisma and sex appeal in spades, that money just can't buy.

[jozinha]

12:57 AM on 03/27/2009

Oh that irrepressible Silvio! Makes Joe Biden look like Churchill.

[ReealOne]

12:29 AM on 03/27/2009

I've gotta tell ya. We love our Pres. Obama, and WILL NOT ALLOW ANY RACISIM FROM ANYONE AGAINST HIM OR ANYONE IN HIS FAMILY..... REGARDLESS OF LOCATION OR CULTURE IN OR OUTSIDE OF AMERICA.

THAT BEING SAID, I don't see where PM Silvio Berlusconi meant this as a racist take on Pres. Obama. I agree that he made a really stupid comment, and thought that it was funny, by poking fun at himself as well at the time. PM Berlusconi just has to get used to the idea that he is dealing with a VERY CAPABLE POTUS... who just happens to come from interracial heritage. But unless there is more to what was said and we don't know about it, I don't think that Pres. Obama would be offended by PM Berlusconi's words. I just don't see a racist comment here.

[nicholieeee]

11:37 PM on 03/26/2009

this man has more important issues on his hands other than being "paler" than obama. really wish he would focus on the camorra instead of making stupid remarks to the press

[Just2stressed]

11:15 PM on 03/26/2009

I don't think his comment was meant to be racist; I don't think he was being racist. He just made a stupid comment thinking it was funny.

[raaf]

10:26 PM on 03/26/2009

I am not a fan of Berlusconi, but I don't see anything wrong with this. Berlusconi is an eccentric man who's obsessed with his physical appearance and probably is a bit jealous of Obama's complexion.

[Trogenhorse]

12:02 AM on 03/27/2009

Well, he should look in a mirror because he is not nearly as good looking as the president. Nor does he have the advantage of "youthful" appearence.

[juniperbug]

09:38 PM on 03/26/2009

what a loon. europeans can be very racist, take it from an asian american living in paris...... i hear all sorts of things thrown out at me on the streets everyday and Paris is supposed to be the most diverse european city. racism exists in america too, but it's not like this where i am from....not at all. but hearing things about this Italian guy, not surprising at all.

[Asean4Obama]

10:25 PM on 03/26/2009

From my experience, London is the only city in Europe that doesnt have that much racism, followed by Amsterdam. Germany, Austria, Italy, France, Belgium are from my site the worst. I am a Caucasian and my wife is Asian.

No wonder they don't want to participate in the UN Racisim conference.

In the America's sadly the United States is the biggest racist country. Also we enjoy short visits to the US, but we would normally stay 3 weeks in Canada and 3 days in the US. I do however want to point out that racism is mainly fooled by the GOP and not the Democrats.

[Egalitare]

10:38 PM on 03/26/2009

Racism is everyone's cross to bear.

The best we people of color can do is strive to NOT to treat our former oppressors the way they treated us, but to extend - as Obama said in his Inaugural - an open hand.

[Trogenhorse]

12:04 AM on 03/27/2009

whatever, Prince Charles make a statement about having to keep the gays and the blacks happy so...

[voltairegirl]

09:17 PM on 03/26/2009

This is nothing compared to the corruption and power grabbing at the highest levels that Berlusconi has been involved with. The mystery for me is this: how can a people that birthed the Etruscans, the Romans, and the Renaissance; Veronese and Raphael and Giacometti; Dante and Calvino, Schiaparelli and Valentino; the wonder that is Venice and the charm of a thousand art towns , a way of life so satisfying that it's been the envy of the world for hundreds of years—how the hell can the people of that Italy, with all its many flaws and inefficienceis, but STILL, how do they keep re-electing this criminal buffoon?

[eden4barack08]

09:00 PM on 03/26/2009

Shocking? Where?

[rssrai]

08:27 PM on 03/26/2009

What can you expect from a facist?

[Bitsko]

08:21 PM on 03/26/2009

And obviously a lot hornier.