Two Pudgy White-Haired Mammals: Which One Would You Say Is Cuter?

Is Newt following in Knut's paw prints? A warmer, cuddlier Newt Gingrich took time last week from a European health-care conference for a photo op with the Berlin Zoo's superstar polar cub. "I think he is a symbol of a growing divide on man's relationship with the environment," wrote the likely presidential candidate on the conservative Web site HumanEvents.com.

The 5-month-old baby bear became a sensation when animal rights activists criticized zoo officials for saving the little guy's life -- thus interfering with nature -- after his mother abandoned him. (Knut's got book and licensing deals, a hit single about him, and an appearance on the cover of Vanity Fair's Green issue with Leo DiCaprio.) Now the former House speaker can't get enough of his furry twin: "My name, Newt, actually comes from the Danish 'Knut,' " Gingrich said at a debate last month -- conveniently glossing over the "Newton Leroy" on his birth certificate. And really, can you blame him? Polar cubs are way cuter than salamanders.

Ex-'West Wing' Star Stays in Character

As Bradley Whitford was getting mobbed yesterday by earnest do-gooder women, aged roughly 18 to 80, at the annual Alliance for Justice meeting, we couldn't help but wonder: They do know that he's not actually Josh Lyman, right?

The actor came to town to get a Champion of Justice award from the liberal group (we know, sounds like they should wear capes) for his advocacy work and narration of the organization's documentary projects. Do his years portraying an idealistic, hard-working nice guy on "The West Wing" (and then, sort of, on the just-canceled "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip") help him find a welcoming audience as he moves into political activism?

Once Josh, now a Champion of Justice. (Amy Graves - PR Newswire)

"It's funny you'd see it that way," said the 47-year-old Whitford. "I spent the vast majority of my career before 'West Wing' playing yuppie scum. People know we're just acting." So he's not worried he'd hurt the cause if he took a role as . . . oh, say, a grouchy neocon defense secretary? "I'd do it in a second. I'd love to play Don Rumsfeld."

THIS JUST IN . . .

XM Radio has suspended Gregg Hughes and Anthony Cumia, hosts of "The Opie & Anthony Show," for 30 days. Last week the controversial duo laughed as a character called Homeless Charlie fantasized about violent sex with Condoleezza Rice, Laura Bush and Queen Elizabeth. The duo apologized, but on Monday's broadcast complained that people were overreacting -- which, XM officials said, "put into question whether they appreciate the seriousness of the matter." In 2002, the pair were fired by CBS Radio after airing a call from two listeners having sex in New York's St. Patrick's Cathedral; their show on satellite radio is not subject to FCC regulation.

India's Supreme Court ruled yesterday that Richard Gere and Shilpa Shetty will not face arrest or other legal action over their public cheek-smooching at an AIDS event last month.

HEY, ISN'T THAT . . . ?

Mikhail Baryshnikov putting around the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Manassas Saturday. The 59-year-old ballet legend, in town to tour the under-construction Workhouse Arts Center in Lorton, looked . . . well, like any other golfer, in a yellow golf shirt and black trousers; no word on his handicap. Later that night, he dined at 2941 restaurant -- a meal prepared by one of his golfing partners, chef Jonathan Krinn.