BERLUSCONI HAILS 'SUNTANNED' OBAMA

Breitbart/drudge ^ | Nov. 6. 2008 | Mike Eckel

[cdchik123]

MOSCOW (AP) - 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.

The Italian leader, who has a history of controversial remarks, was asked by a reporter about the prospect for U.S.-Russian relations, which have plummeted to Cold War-levels in recent months.

Berlusconi responded by saying that the relative youth of Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, 43, and Obama, 47, should make it easier for Moscow and Washington to work together.

Then he said, smiling: "I told the president that (Obama) has everything needed in order to reach deals with him: he's young, handsome and even tanned."

Medvedev did not visibly react to the comment.

[xzins]

Italian president hitting on the new American president?

Sheesh....safe it for San Francisco.

[agere_contra]

You’re not serious. You don’t actually believe Silvio is hitting on Obama?

He’s making non-PC fun of him.

[Texan Tory]

I don’t even think he’s really making fun of Obama, I think he’s making fun of political correctness itself.

[Fawn]

Misery loves company.

[God luvs America]

Berlusconi is great...it is good he is still around....

[xzins]

You don’t think he’s lookin’ for a little Berlubambi?

[janeliberty]

Italians are fun loving with a great sense of humor. They often use humor when asked inane questions such as what U.S./Russian relations will be. How would he know, he’s not in Obama’s loop.