AN AIDE TO a US congressman has resigned following a Facebook post in which she urged President Obama’s teenage daughters to “dress like you deserve respect, not a spot at a bar.”
Elizabeth Lauten, communications director to Republican Stephen Fincher of Tennessee, made the comments in reference to the appearance and demeanour of the Obama sisters at last week’s Thanksgiving ‘turkey pardon’ at the White House.
The annual tradition involves the sitting US president choosing two turkeys that will not be killed and eaten as part of Thanksgiving celebrations.
Malia (16) and Sasha (13) Obama again joined their father at the ceremony last Thursday with some people suggesting that the teenagers appeared less than enthusiastic about being part of the antiquated tradition.
Lauten appears to have shared similar sentiments and wrote on her Facebook page that the two girls should have shown more “class” at a turkey-pardoning ceremony.
She later apologised for the comments and deleted the original post, which drew harsh criticism across social media.
Jessica Carter, chief of staff for Fincher, confirmed today that Lauten had resigned.
After the post attracted strong criticism online , Lauten issued an apology, saying “many hours of prayer,” conversations with her family and a re-reading of her words made her reconsider the post.
“When I first posted on Facebook I reacted to an article and I quickly judged the two young ladies in a way that I would never have wanted to be judged myself as a teenager,” Lauten told The Commercial Appeal of Memphis in an email.
“Please know, those judgemental feelings truly have no place in my heart. Furthermore, I’d like to apologise to all of those who I have hurt and offended with my words.
Roy Herron, chairman of the Tennessee Democratic Party, called Lauten’s criticism of the Obama daughters “cruel, outrageous and inexcusable.”
Herron called the comment an “unprecedented low in Washington mudslinging” and “absolutely toxic for our civic life and political culture.”
Head of communications for the Republican party also tweeted his dissatisfaction but questioned the media coverage Lauten’s comments had received.
- Additional reporting by Associated Press
- First published 8.01 pm
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