Politics / Newt Gingrich De Niro: First Lady Joke Wasn't Meant to Offend He responds to Newt Gingrich attack By Rob Quinn, Newser Staff Posted Mar 21, 2012 1:53 AM CDT Updated Mar 21, 2012 4:02 AM CDT Copied Robert De Niro poses for a photo during a premiere at Ziegfeld Theatre in New York City. (Getty Images) 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.) Report an error