Posted on 03/20/2012 10:11:48 AM PDT by VinL
President Barack Obama's re-election organization said Tuesday it was "inappropriate" for Robert De Niro to joke at a campaign fundraiser in New York Monday that America wasn't "ready for a white first lady."
"We believe the joke was inappropriate," Olivia Alair, Campaign Press Secretary to the First Lady, said in a statement.
The campaign's comment came after Newt Gingrich delivered a scorching response to De Niro's comments at an Obama for America fundraiser, which was attended by first lady Michelle Obama.
While Michelle Obama headlined the event, she was introduced after De Niro's remarks. The event was also attended by a number of other prominent Obama supporters, including Harvey Weinstein and Beyonce.
"Callista Gingrich. Karen Santorum. Ann Romney. Now do you really think our country is ready for a white first lady?" De Niro asked to cheers from the crowd. "Too soon, right?"
Speaking Tuesday, Gingrich labeled the comments "inexcusable," and called on Obama to apologize.
"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 De Niro's wrong," Gingrich said. "I think the country is ready for a new first lady and he doesn't have to describe it in racial terms."
Gingrich immediately clarified he thought Michelle Obama, along with the wives of his fellow GOP presidential candidates, were all "fine ladies."
"But this is not about the first lady," Gingrich continued. "It's about the president. That's where De Niro missed the whole point. De Niro is rich enough he probably doesn't notice the price of gasoline. He's successful enough he probably doesn't notice the unemployment rate. As the Hollywood actor, he might well be shortsighted enough he doesn't understand what it might do to our children and our grandchildren."
Gingrich called on Obama to apologize for the remarks, since they were made at an event raising money for his re-election.
"What De Niro said last night was inexcusable and the president should apologize for him. It was at an Obama fundraiser, it is exactly wrong, it divides the country," Gingrich said, adding that the left was quick to call out conservative talk show hosts for offensive comments but silent when the vitriol comes from the left.
"If people on the left want to talk about talk show hosts, then everybody in the country should hold the president accountable when someone at his event says something that is utterly and terrible unacceptable as what Robert De Niro said," Gingrich said.
Speaking on the Laura Ingraham Show Tuesday, fellow presidential candidate Rick Santorum largely avoided weighing in on De Niro's comments.
"It's just someone from Hollywood or someone from the entertainment industry just spouting off as they do," Santorum said. "It's sad, but I'm not going to bite on that one. It's just sad. The idea of looking at politics through eyes of race should be over. That's just over. I don't know where he thinks he's coming from."
Those in America who can't see or understand that are truly stuck on stupid.
If by "master" you mean he's learning when to keep his yapper shut, then, yeah.
Newt is the only one smart and articulate enough to take the fight to the Opposition, even when the press is in bed with him and win far more battles than he loses.
If he is the nominee, we will have a true ideolgical debate in this country and Obama will be obliterated, if its anyone else, it will be a boring tit for tat mud smearing campaign, and nothing more.
The last poll I saw had Romney at 45? and Rick at 30?. Newt 12?. It has been previously reported that Newt’s vote splits 50/50. That gives Romney a 51-36 win. I dislike Romney too, but all Newt dropping out would accomplish is to hand him the nomination quicker.
Newt has spine and guts as does Allen West. The rest of the GOP are pathetic eunuchs too gutless to defend this country from the enemies within, IMO. God help us.
I love both Newt and Congressman West. I have met them both and they are GENUINE.
I also met Rick, and he is a decent person as well, but my FL Primary Vote went to Newt.
We need to tell it like it is, speak the TRUTH to power, and forget about “Political Correctness...which originated with the Chi-Coms in the early 60’s by the way.
Will they also be calling for the end of De Niro’s career?
Ricky thinks he is getting ready for the general and his run to the left. And make no mistake that is precisely what he will do.
Newt should come out today in IL with a large part of his remarks being about the 2nd Amendment, and how awful IL is in upholding it.
All IMHO, of course.
It might have been just a joke if Deniro hadn’t called out the women by name. I don’t blame Newt for hitting back. A guy makes fun of your wife in public, its pretty much your obligation.
Dixie ChicksAlec Baldwin
Sean Penn
Tim Robbins
Tom Hanks
Robert De Niro
Check, check, check, check, check, check. Perfect, IM!
I hear the Dixie Chicks are doing birthday parties at the local Dennys.
Newt’s level of discourse is a level superior to either of his opponents. I wish people would see that.
The left is the champion of political correctness. Make them live up to their own standard.
Hey, DeNiro, I think America’s ready to look past race but liberals need race division. You just keep being a racist, Hollywood bigot because that’s apparently all you’re good for.
Hey, DeNiro, I think America’s ready to look past race but liberals need race division. You just keep being a racist, Hollywood bigot because that’s apparently all you’re good for.
Hey, DeNiro, I think America’s ready to look past race but liberals need race division. You just keep being a racist, Hollywood bigot because that’s apparently all you’re good for.
little touchy I see
Internal polling on white voters must be SOOOOO in the crapper.
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