GOP Staffer Apologizes for Criticizing Obama’s Daughters

On Friday, a Republican staffer went to her Facebook page to criticize how President Obama’s daughters, Malia and Sasha, were dressed at Obama’s turkey pardon ceremony last week. But only hours later, she was apologizing for the digs.

Republican aide Elizabeth Lauten, the communications director for Rep. Stephen Fincher (R-TN), thought that the President’s girls were dressed sloppily for a public event and criticized them for their indifference to their father’s press conference. On November 28, Lauten took to her Facebook page to make note of the incident.

The congressional staffer, who was once the new media political manager of the Republican National Committee, posted a dig at both the girls and their parents:

Dear Sasha and Malia, I get you’re both in those awful teen years, but you’re a part of the First Family, try showing a little class. At least respect the part you play. Then again your mother and father don’t respect their positions very much, or the nation for that matter, so I’m guessing you’re coming up a little short in the “good role model” department. Nevertheless, stretch yourself. Rise to the occasion. Act like being in the White House matters to you. Dress like you deserve respect, not a spot at a bar. And certainly don’t make faces during televised public events.

It was not long before left-wingers noticed the rant and criticized Lauten for the Facebook entry. A host of lefty websites and media folks then joined in on the attack.

Once the firestorm of criticism hit, Lauten posted a second Facebook update apologizing for her slam of the teenagers:

“I reacted to an article and quickly judged the two young ladies in a way that I would never have wanted to be judged myself as a teenager,” she said. She added:

After many hours of prayer, talking to my parents and re-reading my words online, I can see more clearly how hurtful my words were. Please know that these judgmental feelings truly have no place in my heart. Furthermore, I’d like to apologize to all of those who I have hurt and offended with my words, and pledge to learn and grow (and I assure you I have) from this experience.

Follow Warner Todd Huston on Twitter @warnerthuston or email the author at igcolonel@hotmail.com.