Gingrich wants a piece of Hollywood actor Robert De Niro

Washington, Mar.21 (ANI): Former speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Newt Gingrich has an unlikely political foe - Hollywood star Robert De Niro.ingrich turned his fire on De Niro after the famed "Taxi Driver" made a joke at an Obama campaign fundraiser.

Speaking before a star-studded audience in New York, De Niro introduced Michelle Obama and listed her possible replacements should the Republicans take the White House in November.

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

De Niro's audience of Hollywood stars - Ben Stiller, Whoopie Goldberg and Beyonce were in attendance - and Democrat big spenders roared with approval but Republicans quickly seized upon the remark.

Gingrich managed to thrust himself briefly back into the spotlight by calling the comments "beyond the pale" and demanding that Barack Obama apologise on De Niro's behalf.

"What De Niro said last night was inexcusable and the president should apologize for him. It was at an Obama fundraiser, it is exactly wrong, it divides the country. What de Niro said was beyond the pale and he should be ashamed of himself," he said at an event in Louisiana.

The Republican hopeful further said the Raging Bull star had "missed the whole point".

"De Niro is rich enough he probably hasn't noticed the price of gasoline. He's successful enough he probably doesn't notice the unemployment rate and as a Hollywood actor he may well be short-sighted enough he hasn't seen what the deficit is going to do to our children and our children's children," he said.

A spokeswoman for the Obama campaign said: "We believe the joke was inappropriate." De Niro's publicist said the comment was "obvious satire". (ANI)