De Niro: First Lady Joke Wasn't Meant to Offend

Robert De Niro has responded to a raging Newt and anybody else offended by his quip that America may not be "ready for a white first lady," made while he introduced Michelle Obama at a fundraiser on Monday. "My remarks, although spoken with satirical jest, were not meant to offend or embarrass anyone—especially the First Lady," he tells Talking Points Memo. Gingrich called the joke "inexcusable," and said the president should apologize. A spokeswoman for the first lady said De Niro's quip was "inappropriate." (Click to find out the unlikely supporter De Niro has on his side.)