Robert DeNiro's Joke 'Inappropriate', Says Obama Campaign

WASHINGTON — Actor Robert De Niro opened a fundraiser starring Michelle Obama by listing her Republican rivals and jokingly suggesting that America isn't "ready for a white first lady." Newt Gingrich was not amused, and the Obama campaign says the quip was inappropriate.

Gingrich on Tuesday called De Niro's comment "inexcusable" and demanded an apology from President Barack Obama.

"I think that Robert De Niro's wrong," Gingrich said at a campaign stop in Shreveport, La. "The country is ready for a new first lady, and he doesn't have to describe it in racial terms."

Gingrich said the president should be held accountable "when someone at his event says something as utterly and totally unacceptable as Robert De Niro said last night. And I call on the president to apologize for him."

Obama didn't apologize, but his campaign didn't stand by the actor's sense of humor, either.

"We believe the joke was inappropriate," said Mrs. Obama's campaign press secretary, Olivia Alair. She declined further comment.

De Niro and his wife, Grace Hightower, were the hosts of the New York fundraiser Monday night. The tough-talking star of "Taxi Driver," "Raging Bull," "Casino," and "Meet the Parents" opened the evening's remarks by listing the wives of Republicans running for president.

"Callista Gingrich. Karen Santorum. Ann Romney," he said. "Now do you really think our country is ready for a white first lady?"

The crowd of big-dollar donors waiting to hear from the nation's first black first lady roared in approval, and De Niro finished: "Too soon, right?"

Publicist Stan Rosenfield said De Niro wouldn't respond to the criticism. "It was obvious satire," Rosenfield said in an email.

Comments

[Noble9]

11:13 AM on 04/03/2012

Michelle Obama isn't white?

[who919]

07:08 PM on 03/25/2012

Give me a break why should Obama apologizes for what some one else said, plus it is not like we haven't had a white first lady then again since De niro is black I guess it was wrong

[Lady Propane]

03:27 PM on 03/23/2012

It was a satirist joke, but I keep forgetting that half of America just sees Robert de Niro attacking the WHOLESOME BEAUTY of the WHITE WOMAN. Legitimately over here snickering.

[thewirah]

06:34 PM on 03/21/2012

Awesome and very true.

[bikeguy54]

05:06 PM on 03/21/2012

I agree. Bob, you were off the mark.

[Patriot66]

04:23 PM on 03/21/2012

"Gingrich on Tuesday called De Niro's comment "inexcusable" and demanded an apology from President Barack Obama." What the What! Obama has to apologize for stupid stuff that comes out of other people's mouths...really?

[IMeMine]

02:58 PM on 03/21/2012

Americans need to understand the meaning of "irony."

[Dkbny]

02:33 PM on 03/21/2012

Newt, where were you when your boy Limbaugh was insulting fluke with MUCH harsher statements? Statement that were probably more appropriately directed towards someone sleeping with another woman's husband.

[bps]

01:33 PM on 03/21/2012

Oh, Newt. Really. Your not-so-Catholic mistress of six years and now Wife # 3 as First Lady? Perhaps in medieval Europe, but not here, not now. Talk about "utterly and totally unacceptable".

[Ted Glass]

12:19 PM on 03/21/2012

So i guess Newt should be held accountable for everything ever said by individuals at his events? I'm sure someone can dig up some pretty good stuff that has been said at such events. Rick Perry's "pray for the strength to run for president" event in Texas a few months back comes to mind.

Hypocrites

[voodoo8]

12:10 PM on 03/21/2012

Why would anyone need to apologize to anyone else other than possibly DeNiro?

[RRIDLEY100]

11:50 AM on 03/21/2012

I have an idea. I think Obama should apologize to Newt but only after Newt has gone from door to door apologizing to all of President Clinton supporters for trying to impeach him for infidelity while you were doing the same thing at the same time. Apologize to all of us who time you wasted, tax payers money you spent and good will of the people lost. Once you have gone door to door and apologize to every single one of us face to face, then and only then should President Obama apologize to you. Until then Newty, take a LONG HIKE

[liberal]

11:44 AM on 03/21/2012

Amazingly no one gets upset over all of the negative remarks about the first lady, can we say double standard.

[perpetualpessimist]

11:41 AM on 03/21/2012

Charles Templeton wrote: hhl482 - You can't possibly be that dense. What if someone said that about blacks? It's the same situation as proposing a National Association for the Advancement of White People

Not only was a NAAWP *proposed*, it was actually instituted --- by David Duke. All Mr. DeNiro did was to twist racist right-wing rhetoric and use it against them. But as proven time and again, Republicans can make jokes but are unable to take them.

[RRIDLEY100]

11:40 AM on 03/21/2012

Wait, Wait, WAIT!! Newt wants the President of the United States to apology to him for a lame joke an actor made?? I just want to make sure I understand this totally before I respond. A former Speaker of the House, brought down by illegal and immoral issues, cheated on wife after wife after wife. Used the excuse he was working so hard for his country that it caused him to jump repeatedly from bed to bed to bed. Was at the forefront of trying to impeach President Clinton for cheating while he was doing the EXACT same thing at the EXACT SAME TIME now wants a President who so far has been a guiding light and shining beacon of morality and fidelity concerning his wife and family to apologize to HIM??? Do I have it right?? Ok, Newt, here is your apology on behalf of the President of the United States of America. BITE ME!!