Robert DeNiro Responds To Newt Gingrich Remarks

Robert DeNiro has responded to Newt Gingrich's charge that a joke he made about the country not being "ready for a white First Lady" were divisive and "inexcusable."

"My remarks, although spoken with satirical jest, were not meant to offend or embarrass anyone -- especially the First Lady,” DeNiro said in a statement to Talking Points Memo.

Michelle Obama's campaign press secretary also stopped short of apologizing for DeNiro's joke, saying Tuesday that it was "inappropriate" and declining further comment.

DeNiro made the quip Monday night at an Obama campaign event he co-hosted with the First Lady.

"Callista Gingrich. Karen Santorum. Ann Romney. Now do you really think our country is ready for a white First Lady?" he asked the crowd. "Too soon, right?"

Newt Gingrich reacted explosively on Tuesday, tearing into DeNiro for being a rich, out-of-touch Hollywood actor and condemning his joke for being racially charged.

"I do want to say one thing, both on behalf of my wife and on behalf of Karen Santorum and on behalf of Ann Romney, I think that Robert DeNiro's wrong," he said. "I think the country is ready for a new first lady and he doesn't have to describe it in racial terms."

Newt has not yet responded to DeNiro's statement.

Comments

[t and star]

09:20 AM on 03/25/2012

newt's outrage is a permanent condition. the only way to remove his bunched panty from his backside is by surgery.

[JeepyFox]

12:39 AM on 03/25/2012

Some pearls from Pudgy:

“I have enormous personal ambition. I want to shift the entire planet. And I’m doing it. I am now a famous person. I represent real power.”

“Gingrich – Primary mission, Advocate of civilization, Definer of civilization, Teacher of the rules of civilization, Leader of the civilizing forces.”

“It doesn’t matter what I do. People need to hear what I have to say. There’s no one else who can say what I can say. It doesn’t matter what I live.”

And who's out of touch again?

[Rogell]

08:56 AM on 03/24/2012

While DiNero has it about right, Gingrich is one of the most ignorant men I've ever come across; and to think he's seeking the highest office in the land. Now, that to me, is funny. No, that borders on hallucination. Newt is one sick fat big-headed man.

[dennis1943]

08:35 AM on 03/24/2012

Newt cannot figure out why the rest of the world won't take him as seriously as he takes himself............

[efmo]

03:14 AM on 03/24/2012

Newt is on the phoney outrage trip again...and again....and again...and again. He really he is newt.

[ChrisDWard]

02:54 AM on 03/24/2012

That's rich. Possibly the MOST DIVISIVE FIGURE in D.C.'s recent history - and he's demanding an apology for a tepid comment made by a Dem at a Dem political event. IF ANYONE NEEDS TO APOLOGIZE IT'S Gingrich and his ilk who've done nothing but lie about, malign, and insult this president since day one, and for Gingrich - it's part of his politica DNA. He was the one who, as Speaker, instructed the GOP to stop socializing with Dems. He was one of the chief architects of the divisiveness in Washington! He doesn't get to make such demands! I for one am absolutely sick to death of these people disgorging garbage about Dems on a 24/7 basis, then demanding apologies for mild comments made at a political event. NO APOLOGIES TO THESE PEOPLE.

[Jeni Luby]

08:28 PM on 03/23/2012

Newt, who's out of touch?

[cantbreallife]

08:25 PM on 03/23/2012

Give it up Newt You are irrelevant.

[onionboy]

02:43 PM on 03/23/2012

Victim, victim, victim, victim, victim.

The only position the GOP has left.

[wonderfullone]

12:32 AM on 03/24/2012

How about, cr*zy, cr*zy, cr*zy, cr*zy.

[Patric Douglas]

01:27 AM on 03/24/2012

And tubby, don't forget tubby.

[onionboy]

12:42 PM on 03/26/2012

They don't like to advertise that one.

[barleyhusk]

01:26 AM on 03/24/2012

or cry, cry, whine, cry, cry, whine

[Epilef2000]

02:34 PM on 03/23/2012

Gingrich has to first apologize to all women, and the institution of marriage before he is outraged at DeNiro's joke.

[ussuri]

01:20 PM on 03/23/2012

Nation ,please don`t make Calista a first lady.

[the dharma bum]

04:04 PM on 03/23/2012

actually I think Callista is the third lady.....

[lazingaro]

07:40 PM on 03/23/2012

If she sticks around long enough. My guess is by 2016, Newt's patriotism will cause him to search out a more likable potential FLOTUS as it will certainly be Calista's fault in the end that he failed to bring it home.

[Rogell]

09:01 AM on 03/24/2012

No, she would be the third lady, if he was elevated to the presidency, but as we all know, that's not going to happen - thankgoodness...

[kiksadi50]

01:17 PM on 03/23/2012

DiNero's clever joke was satire @ it's best.Mitt Romney's wife stated that she thought it was funny, which it was.GET A SENSE OF HUMOUR NEWT.YOU'LL NEED IT WHEN YOU ARE RELEGATED BACK TO OBLIVION WHERE YOU BELONG!

[Omeezee]

11:59 AM on 03/23/2012

It was a joke. I think people forget that it's about who say it and how they say it. Louis C.K. made a joke about "how awesome being white and male is." Because of how he said it, because I know that he and Chris Rock (who also uses humor when talking about race) and he are good friends and working partners, it did not come off as racist. It was funny. Now if the Grandwizrd of the KKK said that t would ahev a different sound to it. A different audience would maybe not laugh at it, but would hoot and holler and ad to it things that are not funny. Robert DeNiro's wife is black and he has biracial children. What he said was not inappropriate. It was a joke and considering what the Republican/Tea Party has said about President Obama and his family, what DeNiro said and how he said it, and given his background, should not be taken "that way." Once you call the Commander in Chief a "food stamp President," I just can't buy that Newt would find DeNiro's remarks "divisive and inexcusable." Maybe Newt was talking about what the Republican party has become?

[janiejones]

11:06 AM on 03/23/2012

Why demand an apology for something deemed "inexcusable?" Newt's a joke.

[Ron in NYC]

10:47 AM on 03/23/2012

Mr. De Niro need not to have apologized, but it was gracious of him to do so. Some people just have no sense of humor...especially when the joke's on their bobble head, trophy (current) wife.