Newt Gingrich is blasting the Obama campaign for a supposedly “inexcusable” comment from Robert Deniro at a fundraiser with Michelle Obama.
But here’s the thing. What DeNiro said just isn’t offensive. Look, there’s plenty of reasons to be offended by DeNiro like “Meet the Fockers” or “The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle” but his comment at the fundraiser ain’t one of them.
In his introduction of Michelle Obama, DeNiro said, “Callista Gingrich. Karen Santorum. Ann Romney. Now do you really think our country is ready for a white first lady?” De Niro asked and then added, “Too soon, right?”
It’s not actually funny but for those rubber chicken events, it’s fine. It’s hardly offensive. Republicans shouldn’t fall into this whole, “I’m offended” thing every time someone mentions anything to do with skin color.
It could be because mentioned Gingrich’s wife and that made Newt lose it a little because guys are protective of their wives and don’t want them used as punchlines. But Newt specifically calls out the racial aspect of it and that’s where he goes wrong.
Speaking today, 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.”
And then of course, the Obama campaign did come out and call DeNiro’s comments “inappropriate.”
If Newt wanted to point out the double standard and say, “Imagine if a conservative had said the exact opposite thing” I would at least understand. It would be really dumb to do that but at least it would be honest. I don’t know Newt but I’m telling you now that there’s no way in his heart of hearts he found DeNiro’s comments “inexcusable.”
Pretending that they are only feeds into political correctness which is never kind to those attempting to tell the truth.
I understand Newt’s just trying to get on the map again by picking a fight. He figures picking a fight with the Obamas and Hollywood, he can’t go wrong. But most regular people see through this kind of stuff. I think.
