Robert De Niro Unapologetic for 'Satirical Jest'
Despite Newt Gingrich and Michelle Obama finding rare common ground over their distaste for Robert De Niro's recent "white First Lady" gag, the actor and occasional king of comedy did not back down in a statement released Tuesday: "My remarks, although spoken with satirical jest, were not meant to offend or embarrass anyone —- especially the First Lady." Oy. So much for the impossible De Niro robocall dream, I guess. [TPM]
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This is not the first time De Niro has made questionable racial comments. Here he is, in 1993, talking to his son about dating black women:
I get along with everybody on the bus... but when it comes to marriage, we should marry within our own.
De Niro's wife is black so that was obviously meant as a joke.
I was wondering how long it would take for someone to get that. It's a De Niro line from A Bronx Tale.
Just once, just once, I want a person in American politics who isn't so eager to be offended. Setting the bar a bit high?
Everyone wants to be that person, but the reason there aren't that many (there are certainly, certainly some) is because this would make you proud and abrasive, when the call is out to debase yourself by eager displays of self-abnegation. You respond on call without deliberation, and for this pass on. The ones who deliberate, consider circumstances, context, are passed by Talledaga Night-style in their moment of self-collection and pause. Only Obama gets to do that -- the rest do your part by looking ridiculous and making our turn away from people-based democracy towards along the lines of monarchy, that much more sensible.
---Never thought DeNiro was any kind
of a great actor --but he is a fantastic actor-outter (ie psychopath). He never
reveals any deeper level to anything
beyond psychopathy. Never.
---BUT!
With age he's looking uncannily like
Josef Stalin and SHOULD play him in
ANY definitive film biography.
His greatest role ---awaits!
Rupert! Points for the perfect pic.