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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsGOP Staffer Apologizes For Lecturing Obama Daughters To 'Show A Little Class'
A Republican staffer on Friday apologized for a Facebook post that criticized Malia and Sasha Obama's appearance at the annual White House turkey pardon ceremony, one of America's silliest holiday traditions.
Elizabeth Lauten, the communications director for Rep. Stephen Fincher (R-Tenn.), wrote that the two teenagers should "try showing a little class," "dress like you deserve respect, not a spot at a bar," and, most of all, "don't make faces" at Very Serious public events.
Read the full rant via Gawker:
Dear Sasha and Malia, I get youre both in those awful teen years, but youre a part of the First Family, try showing a little class. At least respect the part you play. Then again your mother and father dont respect their positions very much, or the nation for that matter, so Im guessing youre 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 dont make faces during televised public events.
The First Daughters join President Obama at the ceremony every year, where they can hardly contain their disdain for the lame dad jokes that predictably follow. Before approaching Mac and Cheese, the two turkeys, the president remarked that it was "puzzling that I do this every year." Malia even declined her father's offer to pet one of the pardoned turkeys with a nonchalant, "Nah."
Lauten later apologized for rushing to judgement on Facebook.
"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. "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 pace 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."
http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/gop-staffer-apologizes-for-lecturing-obama-daughters-to-show-a-little-class/ar-BBg8JmR?ocid=mailsignout
demwing
(16,916 posts)a real apology...
Color me shocked!
lpbk2713
(42,766 posts)If you're going to say or do something colossally dumb don't
do it where millions of people can see it and react to it.
shenmue
(38,506 posts)Ugh, they don't even try to hide it anymore.
pangaia
(24,324 posts)To quote myself in a similar thread..
"She has to.. PRAY ??? WTF?
She has to... talk with her parents? WTF?
She has to.....re read the article?...... WTF..
Her whole thing is her hatred of the President.. that's it..
(THAT part got left out here....)
Fake, pseudo-xtian ignorant pos..."
Skidmore
(37,364 posts)a true learning experience? What if her parents are not as inflexible in their political or religious beliefs as those she has come to associate with as an adult?
I'm willing to take her apology and watch how she acts in the future. I gues I'm not inclined to think that all people cannot learn fromt their errors.
pangaia
(24,324 posts)Or, seeing as you are "Skidmore', maybe ..woman.
But she never apologized.
Plus, how could anyone with any type of developed brain think such a thing, much less put it in print?
Schema Thing
(10,283 posts)... and pledge to learn and grow (and I assure you I have) from this experience."
pangaia
(24,324 posts)Sorry, in my opinion, she has no idea where inside her the words came from.
DinahMoeHum
(21,806 posts)The fake contrition is all about Lauten.
Not Sasha or Malia, who were basically called tawdry bar trash by that immature, unprofessional, low-class a-hole.
pangaia
(24,324 posts)TheKentuckian
(25,029 posts)They come after us hammer and tongs 24/7 365, ever calling for scalps for any reason, even utterly fabricated ones while we are quick to forgive, wait and see, and seek to reach out our burned, gnarled, stumps at any opportunity.
I call it being a chump and a mark.
Skidmore
(37,364 posts)were ugly to be sure. I'm not defending her on any account. Sometimes people learn from their stupidity and change, then sometimes they just get sneakier. I wonder which path she'll choose.
pangaia
(24,324 posts)LiberalElite
(14,691 posts)(the apology that is) there's no "if I offended anyone I'm sorry" crocodile tears baloney.
Gman
(24,780 posts)That sounds like she did what she had to do as a person to see how offending she was. I think her apology was very sincere.
And apparently the apology was deleted off her FB page according to other articles.
AverageJoe90
(10,745 posts)Let's hope that it is indeed genuine.....time will tell, I guess.
Cha
(297,523 posts)Picking on the Obama Girls Isnt Smart, Especially if You Work for a GOP Congressman
http://www.theroot.com/articles/culture/2014/11/elizabeth_lauten_faces_backlash_after_scolding_sasha_and_malia_on_facebook.html?wpisrc=topstories
HockeyMom
(14,337 posts)Excuse me? These young women are totally covered up. Does she want them to wear burqas? I guess she herself has never been to a bar.
lpbk2713
(42,766 posts)Rex
(65,616 posts)No offense.
malaise
(269,157 posts)That is all
sarisataka
(18,755 posts)I'm sorry for anyone who may have been offended...
But since the statement was addressed to Sasha and Malia, the apology should be addressed to them as well.