De Niro Joke About GOP First Ladies Draws Ire

[kpete]

De Niro Joke About GOP First Ladies Draws Ire

Robert DeNiro's jokes about first ladies Monday night has Republican candidate Newt Gingrich up in arms.

At an event hosted by DeNiro and his wife, DeNiro said, according to the pool report:

Callista Gingrich. Karen Santorum. Ann Romney. Now do you really think our country is ready for a white first lady?

DeNiro acknowledged the touchiness of the subject, following up, "Too soon, right?"

http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entries/de-niro-joke-about-gop-first-ladies-draws

[Richardo]

1. It's not about GOP First Ladies...

...it's holding up a mirror to all the 'ready for a black President' discussions of 2008.

WTG DeNiro!

[randome]

2. That's a pretty mild 'joke'.

Gingrich apparently demanded an apology. From Obama.

Geeze, thin skins.

[karynnj]

15. Not to mention - it is negative only if you bring the negatives to the women

They are just named. Compare this to the hate and specific attacks on Hillary, Tipper, Teresa, and Michelle. Michelle has been attacked on a daily basis and slammed for more things than I can think of.

[fishwax]

23. Yeah, no kidding -- "What De Niro said was offensive, and Obama should apologize"

What an asshat.

[nanabugg]

3. The GOP is looking for something to be outraged about since the crap with Rush.

Just think if Barak Obama had married a former...Calista?

[leftyohiolib]

4. pretty funny - bobby d

[CTyankee]

5. kudos to de niro for making RW heads explode everywhere!

sniveling cowards that they are...

[rocktivity]

6. Honorary DUzy!

Especially since the press couldn't stop asking if America were ready for a black president four years ago.

Unclutch those pearls, Newt!




rocktivity

[RZM]

7. I see two main aspects to mentioning a candidate's spouse during elections season

First, I think it's almost always wrong. They aren't running for office. They may campaign with their spouses, but so what? So do many other people. I don't think the opposition should ever mention them.

Even though it's wrong, I can see some situations where it might be useful to do so, though that's only if the spouse has a serious weakness that can be exploited. Again, I don't agree, but I can see why a cold-hearted strategist might endorse it. If Mitch Daniels had gotten in, the other candidates (except Newt, who wouldn't have had room to talk) might have gone after her for running off to California with a doctor and leaving her kids with Mitch.

If Michele Bachmann had done better, you might have seen attacks against Marcus pop up in the primaries and almost certainly in the general (in the latter, his ex-gay therapy might have been on the table). I'm also a bit hazy on this, but I've heard that Evan Bayh's wife might have some financial dealings that wouldn't have held up well to intense scrutiny (I've heard that posited as a reason he wasn't chosen as Obama's running mate).

But this current crop of Republican spouses have little that can be used against them. Santorum's relationship with the doctor occurred when she was in her 20s. The only one with real baggage is Callista and that's sleeping with a married man. Ironically, you almost never hear that used against her on DU - most of it focuses on her appearance, which is a rather petty way of attacking a political spouse.

So I don't see any reason to mention these women. There's little to be gained from it. I understand that Bobby D isn't on Obama's staff and his point was more about Michelle and race, but if I were a Democratic strategist, I would recommend not talking at all about any of the Republican spouses.

[Greybnk48]

8. Good one. But it's not about Republicans per se. n/t

[MarianJack]

9. The only way you can be offended by that joke...

...is if you're LOOKING for a reason to be offended.

Of course, right wingers are always looking for new things to be pissed off over.

PEACE!

[joeybee12]

10. How anyone could be upset about that proves one thing...

Newt Gingrich is mentally unbalanced.

[WilliamPitt]

11. Gold.

[gratuitous]

12. He's just an entertainer

Lighten up, Republicans.

By my count, De Niro's got about four weeks of constant "jokes" about seeing sex tapes of Republican wives before he even begins to approach the record of that vile human being. This is poutrage in search of a focus.

[Richardo]

14. HA!

Perfect.

[WI_DEM]

13. Oh come on! That's pretty mild stuff.

[qb]

16. That's all? I was expecting something to do with sexuality or Stepford Wives.

This is outrage in search of a target, and newt is firing blanks.

[RFKHumphreyObama]

17. This is outrageously offensive and he must be disowned immediately

President Obama should get on the phone and apologize to Bristol Palin right fucking now

I know someone is going to take me seriously here so I'll add

[Lucy Goosey]

18. I'm outraged by the outrage...

Oh, spare me your "outrage", Newtles. As was said in the comment section at the TPM link, if they had been talking about Callista, they would have asked if the country was ready for a plastic or a robot first lady.

People were very seriously asking that question about a Black President (and probably First Lady) a few years ago, and I don't remember any pearl-clutching poutrage from the Obamas.

Anyway, I hardly see the need to make it sound like the President personally said that Callista, Karen and Ann shouldn't be First Lady. Does Newt somehow think this is going to stick to Obama, and lead to his downfall? Or that it will somehow help him (Newt) win the nomination? I don't understand.

[alp227]

19. SOMETIME on the Dark Side Forum defended RDN!

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2861445/posts

Reply 20: "Judging by this article, DeNiro’s remark was funny, satirical, apolitical and mildly politically incorrect statement at worst. I remember when our side was saying it diminished Obama to go directly against Limbaugh a couple years ago. Not sure I agree with that since Limbaugh is a major political player, but it definitely diminishes our guys to appear like they care about what these entertainers and comedians say, and elevates those guys to a level they don’t merit. It’s great to point out the hypocrisy of the left in going after Limbaugh but not Maher, but it’s wrong for us to become the speech police and enforcers of political correctness ourselves."

[JHB]

20. It's Newt's ire. It's not as if it's a collector's item, he leaves it all over the place

Just use a dandruff brush and some Lysol.

[fishwax]

24. lol -- "It's not as if it's a collector's item"

Very true

[Solly Mack]

21. Score!

[Vogon_Glory]

22. Would those be white First Ladies or white First Ladies married to hubbies with glass jaws? n/t

[sadbear]

25. Oh, the horrors!

The vapors, the vapors!!!! Newt's again got the vapors!!!

[girl gone mad]

26. There's nothing even mildly offensive about this joke..

unless I'm missing something.

[Obamacare]

27. How did I miss this thread

I love Bobby D, how can anyone be offended by this, really?lol