Academic

American Sex Scandals Are Boring

By Kim Krawiec

Unless they involve a law school dean, of course.  But Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's diplomacy efforts in anticipation of the G8 summit to be held July 8-10 in the Italian city of L'Aquila have caused me to question whether, much like American financial scandals, most American sex scandals are just not quite as juicy as their European counterparts.  (The Glom?s fine commentary on the Madoff sentencing notwithstanding, see here and here).

From Reuters:

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has denied ever paying a woman for sex, as he faces growing political pressure over lurid allegations that he slept with a female escort who was paid to attend his parties.

"I have never paid a woman," Berlusconi said in an interview with the Chi weekly owned by his Mondadori publishing empire.

"I've never understood what satisfaction there is other than that of conquering (a woman)," he told the magazine, according to excerpts sent to Reuters ahead of publication on Wednesday. (emphasis mine)

The woman in question, Patrizia D'Addario, told an Italian newspaper that a local businessman paid her 1,000 euros ($1,386) to attend a dinner at Berlusconi's home along with other young women and that she later spent the night with him.  However, one of the women who attended the party with D?Addario told reporters that D?Addario had not requested money from Berlusconi in exchange for sex, because she was more interested in obtaining building permit favors. 

?Berlusconi said he doubted a reconciliation with his wife was possible now.?  Gee, ya think?

Apparently, Berlusconi's approval rating dropped two percent after his wife announced that she would divorce him, but still stands at 49%.  Considering that the historical average American presidential job approval rating is only 55% (as compared to President Obama's recent 60+% ratings), that number still seems high for a leader with Berlusconi's PR problems.  

(HT: Crooked Timber)

Full post as published by The Faculty Lounge on July 05, 2009 (boomark / email).