Berlusconi Nazi Comment Triggers Outrage

Associated Press via Yahoo! News ^ | July 2, 2003 | CONSTANT BRAND

[thoughtomator]

Schulz said the remark showed Berlusconi was unfit to represent Europe.

I guess Berlusconi didn't get the memo. The Nazis never existed, there is no such thing, it's a fairy tale, Europe is and always has been the paragon of peace and morality.

[wvnavyvet]

I don't get it, thought a person could do or be anything they wanted in the EU. This smell French to me, payback time for not following the French lead against the U.S.

[Corporate Law]

Truth hurts, Herr Schulz?

[beaversmom]

Really, what does Schulz know anyway.

[Michael81Dus]

Get real. Your joke isn´t funny.

[FairOpinion]

Note they did NOT quote what the socialists said to Berlusconi FIRST, which precipitated B's reply.

"During a question-and-answer session following his speech, German socialist lawmaker Martin Schulz referred to Berlusconi's use of an Italian immunity law to sidestep bribery charges in a Milan court. "

I think it was "one good insult deserves another".
Also, how come these Germans weren't outraged when all of Europe was and still is running around comparing President Bush to Hitler?

I think the socialists are having a hissy fit, because Berlusconi is now EU president, and he is a staunch supporter of the US, in fact recently he made a statement that EU should work with the US, not against it.

[Praxeologue]

During a question-and-answer session following his speech, German socialist lawmaker Martin Schulz referred to Berlusconi's use of an Italian immunity law to sidestep bribery charges in a Milan court.

"In Italy, they are making a movie on Nazi concentration camps," Berlusconi snapped back. "I will propose you for the role of capo," or chief.

In other words, Berlusconi will not be lectured on morality by a German totalitarian.

I need no sense of irony to appreciate that remark.

Bravo!

[FairOpinion]

I just said this:

"Note they did NOT quote what the socialists said to Berlusconi FIRST, which precipitated B's reply. I think it was "one good insult deserves another".


Then I went to see if I could find what the German socialist said to Berlusconi, and sure enough, it was a bad insult to a new President of the EU:

"a leading German parliamentary deputy of the ruling
Social Democratic Party (SPD) called Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi a "sleaze person""

http://www.irna.ir/en/head/030702153822.ehe.shtml

99% of the press has headlines of Berlusconi's RESPONSE to the insult, but carefully avoids stating what the German socialist said to start this.

[Corporate Law]

What joke?

[beaversmom]

Good find.

[Michael81Dus]

Berlusconis insult is ridiculous and anything else but true. You made a bad joke.

[Sunsong]

"Get real. Your joke isn´t funny."

Exactly. Berlusconi was probably right on!! Schultz may very well be a perfect man to play a Nazi. LOL

Go get 'em Berlusconi!!!

[Dan from Michigan]

Berlusconi responded: "If this is your idea of democracy, you ought to visit Italy as tourists. You are behaving as tourists."

Bwhahaahhaahhahahahhahahahah

[BlueLancer]

[Weimdog]

The article forgot to mention the German newspaper calling Berlusconi "The Godfather" -

Europe united in disgust as Berlusconi takes EU throne amid Green protests
The Independent (U.K.) ^ | 06/30/03 | Peter Popham


A shiver of dire anticipation ran through the continent at the weekend, with French, German, Spanish and British newspapers expressing foreboding. The German newspaper Die Zeit, referring to the new immunity law by the Italian Prime Minister extracted himself from a trial for bribing judges that was close to reaching a verdict, commented, "Berlusconi is putting himself above the law."

The paper argued that Europe should take developments in Italy as seriously as it did the election of the neo-fascist leader Jorg Haider in Austria three years ago, which prompted the EU to impose sanctions.

Der Spiegel, the German news weekly, labels Mr Berlusconi "The Godfather" on the cover of its latest issue, and comments, "at home he dismantles justice, subjugates television, has laws tailored to his needs. And now ... he will represent Europe."

[TontoKowalski]

Green leader Monica Frassoni likened Berlusconi to Attila the Hun, whose barbarian hordes ravished Europe in the 5th century without regard for the law.

So the Green wench can call him Attila the Hun, but he can't say someone should portray a Nazi in a movie...

Hmmm. I sense a bit of double standard here.

[Michael81Dus]

I think you completely miss the point. We are not in America, and contrary to you, we use to have manners when talking to each others. So, Mr. Schulz respectfully criticized Berlusconi. It was the Italian PM who could not deal with criticism (probably because he knows no criticism in a country in which he holds the media power...).

[Snuffington]

Oh I see. German politicians compare Bush to Hitler, and that's ok. But let an actual German be compared to a political party which once dominated his country, why, that's an outrage!

[Michael81Dus]

Never call a German a Nazi if he is not one!! You may call that double standard, but it´s appropriate because the Nazi crimes are so serious you cannot make fun with them or use it for a political play.