Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi Describes Barack Obama as "Young, Handsome and Even Tanned"

Well, sooner or later one head of state would make a somewhat controversial statement about Barack Obama. Italy's impolitic Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi described U.S. President-elect Barack Obama as "young, handsome and even tanned." Of course, I think he was joking, but I can also see how that could be considered insulting. The problem is, there seems to be a big problem in Italy with black illegal immigrants, which makes the comments problematic. So, he just couldn't bring himself to saying he was proud an African American was elected the next president of the USA, he just had to make a racist dig at Obama.

Berlusconi has a history of controversial remarks. He was asked by a reporter about the prospect for U.S.-Russian relations, which have plummeted to Cold War-levels in recent months. Berlusconi reportedly 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."

Italian news agencies said Berlusconi later defended the remark to reporters as he returned to his hotel in Moscow, calling the statement "a great compliment" "Why are they taking it as something negative? ... If they have the vice of not having a sense of humor, worse for them," the ANSA news agency quoted him as saying.

Berlusconi later told Sky TV-24 Ore that the remark was meant to be "cute" and he lashed out at those who don't see it as such, calling them "imbeciles, of which there are too many."

Berlusconi is infamous for eyebrow-raising comments. According to media reports, he once compared a German lawmaker to a Nazi camp guard, asserted after the Sept. 11 terror attacks that Western civilization was superior to Islam and more recently, that the new Spanish government had too many women.

Well, you be the judge on this one. I don't think he meant to be rude, but considering his past comments, then he probably meant to be rude. Even the Iranian and Venezuelan nutjobs had something good to say.