De Niro Sorry for ‘White First Lady’ Joke

Robert De Niro has apologized for his joke at an Obama fundraiser Monday night about America’s not being ready for a “white first lady.” In a statement to the Associated Press, De Niro insisted that while his remarks were “spoken in jest,” he didn’t mean to offend anyone, particularly the first lady, whose spokeswoman called the joke “inappropriate.” Kicking off his speech at a reelection fundraiser in New York, De Niro quipped: “Callista Gingrich. Karen Santorum. Ann Romney. Now do you really think our country is ready for a white first lady?” Newt Gingrich was the first to jump on De Niro’s back, saying his racial reference was “inexcusable” and waving a disapproving finger at Obama himself, demanding an apology from the president.