President Obama, Sasha and Malia attend the White House turkey pardoning on Nov. 27. After the ceremony, Lauten posted a rant on Facebook about the two girls. “Act like being in the White House matters to you. Dress like you deserve respect, not a spot at a bar,” Lauten said. Photo by BBC/CC BY
By ANEESA CONINE-NAKANO – Webmaster
GOP staffer Elizabeth Lauten’s snide remarks on Facebook about Sasha and Malia Obama’s behavior and dress at the annual turkey pardoning drew many negative reactions.
On Nov. 26, GOP staffer Elizabeth Lauten posted a paragraph on Facebook expressing her discontent with Sasha and Malia Obama’s behavior and clothing at the annual turkey pardoning.
Lauten’s Facebook post read, “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.”
Lauten calls for “class” and “respect for the role Sasha and Malia play” but it seems she has none herself. Posting insensitive comments about children and teenagers is not “classy,” especially when her complaints seem to take root in her displeasure with the President rather than his daughters.
Lauten could’ve shown a lot more tact but she clearly falls short.
Lauten continues to say, “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.”
Along with the fact her comment is completely inappropriate, she claims the Obama daughters’ clothing was provocative. Sasha and Malia both wore tops and dresses that showed little skin. Their arms and chest were completely covered and Malia wore black tights.
After her comment went viral, Lauten deleted her post and apologized, again via Facebook.
“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. 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 posted.
Although Lauten’s apology was meant to erase her wrongdoings, it only underlined her mistakes. Clearly her statement about Malia and Sasha was not thought out and she failed to recognize that they are not President Obama.
They are children, who still awkwardly laugh at bad jokes made by their father and they still get bored after attending a turkey pardoning for the sixth year in a row.
In the future Lauten should think before she acts, especially when it comes to posting on social media. Like Lauten, many teenagers in high school mindlessly post on social media. And in many situations, their posts will come back to hurt them. Anything one wouldn’t post after thinking it through and “praying”, probably shouldn’t be posted in the first place.
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