Berlusconi calls Obama "Tan"

This week Italy was no different than countries all over the world as the historic nomination of Barack Obama was all over the headlines. However, by Thursday the news had changed from celebration of America making history, to that of outrage and shame because of comments made by PM Silvio Berlusconi. On Thursday Berlusconi, who is known for making insensitive statements called American president-elect Obama "young handsome and even tanned" at a news conference in Moscow. The remark came as the Italian PM and Russian president Dmitry Medvedev discussed the increasingly negative US/Russia relations, saying that between the two young leaders (Obama and Medvedev) should be able to come together. Despite the outrage that many have over the comments, Berlusconi has defended the comment saying it was a compliment and that he was just trying to be "cute." Personally I've heard a lot worse said about black people, but as a world leader in an increasingly diverse world one should know the difference between a "cute" comment and a racially insensitive one. With political correctness sweeping the world, and a rapid and aggressive media, Berlusconi should know when he's fighting a lost cause. Rather he truly believes his comments were appropriate or not is the point. But as an elected official and direct representative of a nation he should try a little harder not to offend such a large amount of people and so often with controversial remarks.