Washington – A US lawmaker’s communications director was facing social media calls she be sacked after her Facebook rant about President Barack Obama’s daughters prompted widespread anger.
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Elizabeth Lauten, spokeswoman for Republican Congressman Stephen Fincher of Tennessee, wrote a scathing post to her Facebook account scolding Malia and Sasha Obama, 16 and 13, for looking bored while attending a public event with their father on Wednesday.
In the post, since deleted but widely reproduced in screen grabs, Lauten tells the girls to “try showing a little class. At least respect the part you play.”
The girls stood beside Obama — looking vaguely bored — as he issued the annual Thanksgiving turkey “pardon,” saving two birds from the dinner table.
The underwhelmed expressions of the teenaged sisters sparked mainly amused comment, but Lauten’s remarks were notably more caustic.
“Then again, your mother and father don’t respect their positions very much, or the nation for that matter,” Lauten wrote in her post.
“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,” she added, apparently referring to the girls’ short skirts.
The post quickly drew ire on Twitter and elsewhere, with many calling for Lauten to be fired, even after Lauten deleted it and posted an apology.
“After many hours of prayer, talking to my parents, and re-reading my words online I can see more clearly just how hurtful my words were,” Lauten wrote on Facebook, also widely reproduced before she made her page private.
“I’d like to apologize to all of those who I have hurt and offended with my words, and I pledge to learn and grow (and I assure you I have) from this experience,” she added.
Star Jones, a lawyer and television personality, was among those unimpressed. “I’ve seen tacky people…but rarely seen someone as tacky as # ElizabethLauten for slamming the children of the # POTUS,” she tweeted.
Many directed their tweets to Lauten’s boss, as the hashtag #FireElizabethLauten went viral.
One commenter, whose username is Eclectic John, wrote: ” @ RepFincherTN08 There is nothing that excuses what # ElizabethLauten posted re the children of our President. That’s off limits. Fire her now.”
In today’s day & age you can’t speak the truth .The more twisted , the more accepted .
I was shocked when I saw the photo. Certainly the daughters of a President should dress in a more dignified way especially for a photo opp. That’s a look from the streets for the streets not befitting daughters of any public figure
Lauten had previously worked for Congressman Joe Walsh, who had had a history of not paying his taxes, not paying his child support, and not paying his car insurance (while continuing to drive).
Yet she complains about the Obama girls? Republican Family Values!
I don’t get what’s wrong with the comment
If you have something to say about the President say it. If you have something to say about the President’s daughters shut up. They are teen age girls.
You don’t like the way they are dressed? What are you the NY Times Fashion critic?
Leave them alone.
Commenting on what a woman wears is simply gossip and seldom does any good anyway.
They’re dressed fine for American teenagers of 2014, and they don’t look “bored.” This rant is obnoxious and over the top, and believe me I’m not such a fan of this administration. Look at photos of the British royal family. Do they look “fascinated,” and “riveted” at state occasions? Leave the kids out of it, for goodness’ sake.
Irrespective of of one’s opinion of president Obama’s performance in office, snarky comments about his teenage daughters are way beyond the pale. The Obamas, unlike the Mayor of New York, do not present their children to the public eye nor do the children do anything to call attention to themselves. Editorial comment may certainly be applied to the President and to any First Lady that presents a public persona. Leave the kids alone, though.