The White House press secretary is accusing former House Speaker Newt Gingrich of pandering to a minority of people that don't believe President Barack Obama was born in the US.

Gingrich sparked controversy Saturday when he told National Review that the president had a "Kenyan, anti-colonial" attitude.

White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said Monday that he couldn't make sense out of the former House Speaker's comments.

"It is hard to comprehend," Gibbs told ABC's George Stephanopoulos. "I don't even have, quite frankly, George, the slightest idea what he's talking about."

"I think Newt Gingrich knows that he's trying to appeal to the fringe of people that don't believe the president was born in this country," said Gibbs. The press secretary was referring to a significant minority of Americans -- known as birthers -- who believe that Obama may not be a legitimate president because he was born in Kenya.

"You would normally expect better from somebody who has held the position of Speaker of the House. Look, it's political season and most people will say anything. Newt Gingrich says that generally on a regular basis," Gibbs concluded.