Apparently the time-honored tradition of not picking at presidential kids is over. According to the Washington Post:
The communications director for a Republican member of Congress ignited a firestorm this weekend after she criticized President Obama’s teenage daughters in a Facebook post that touched a nerve even for Americans accustomed to political mudslinging.
“Try showing a little class,” Elizabeth Lauten, communications director for Rep. Stephen Lee Fincher (Tenn.), wrote Friday in a Facebook posting addressed to Sasha, 13, and Malia, 16, chastising them for their comportment during last week’s annual turkey pardoning event at the White House.
“Rise to the occasion. Dress like you deserve respect, not a spot at the bar,” Lauten wrote. “And certainly don’t make faces during televised, public events.”
Whoaaaaaaa! Where did that come from? The girls looked cute and barely rolled their eyes. They are teenagers, for heaven’s sake. They have grown up in a goldfish bowl and were asked to “officiate” at what is probably one of the stupidest American traditions known to man. I think they did pretty well. Surely they can be allowed a couple of eye rolls and a few side glances. The criticism continues:
After the Wednesday event, several media outlets declared that the young women, standing behind their father as he pardoned two turkeys named Mac and Cheese, looked bored, exasperated or just . . . teenager-ly. USA Today published this headline: “Malia and Sasha Obama are so done with their dad’s turkey pardon,” while the Gawker Web site observed that “not even the pomp and ritual of the White House can overcome the most powerful force known to man: TEEN CONTEMPT.”
Malia and Sasha should look bored. They are teenagers being asked to do something that can at best be described as childish. I would expect nothing less than that from them. Meanwhile, Elizabeth Lauten is simply mean-spirited and has broken away from a tradition of leaving the presidents kids out of the public attacks. Shame on her! Who is Rep. Fincher anyway? Perhaps he needs to rein in his communications director. She is out of line.
When will they learn? Stay away from the kids – and certainly do not post it on Facebook and twitter.
On another note, when the Comms Director of a Congressman is going to go to twitter with her comments about the President – how does one expect this Congress to be any different from the last Congress. Two more years of gridlock. Two more years of other countries eating our lunch while we sit here on principle and get nothing done.
In fairness, Malia is starting to dip her toes into politics.
Malia Obama on Chuck Todd’s The Stranger: ‘Looks Like a Sad Book’: http://www.mediabistro.com/tvnewser/malia-obama-on-chuck-todds-the-stranger-looks-like-a-sad-book_b247396
I’m all for letting teenagers have a normal life, but if they are going to start weighing in on political issues, they are going to invite people to respond.
I agree with you, Moon.
She’ s resigning – http://www.politico.com/story/2014/12/elizabeth-lauten-resigns-criticizes-obama-daughters-113228.html
“if they are going to start weighing in on political issues”
That’s hardly what happened, and you must be joking.
@Furby McPhee What political issues did this six comment on? None. She commented on his they dress. That was repugnant
Lauren has quit as a result of her vile and repulsive comments.
@Furby McPhee
Do you seriously consider that political?
Give me a break. She is a child. She was talking to her family.
Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
@Starry flights
Yes she has. When will people learn to keep those kinds of comments off social media when it can affect their job?
Washingtonpost.com:
It is pretty much common sense that ANY president’s children should be off limits. That should include vice-presidents also if they are minor children. I even extended the Bush girls a grace period through college. So they drank. who didn’t?
I don’t know why she was commenting on the kids. There is SO much that can be criticized about the President. No need to address the children.
Like….why was he only pardoning WHITE turkeys? Something fowl is going on.
😉
Snicker. Are domestic turkeys always white? My turkey skills are lame.
Let me start out by saying that I agree, kids should be off limits and what this woman said was just dumb.
However, who really cares? This was some unknown low-level Congressional aide for a congressman that nobody has ever heard of who posted a stupid comment on her facebook account. BTW, she did the same thing to about the Bush girls criticizing them showing cleavage and for how they talk. But that doesn’t matter, their last name was Bush, right?.
This has received more coverage than the following:
– ACA architect Gruber admitting that ACA was passed based entirely on deception.
– Donny Ray Williams (a Congressional staffer AND staff director for Democrats on a Senate panel) just plead guilty to rape yesterday. Show of hands, how many even knew that?
– Terry Bean, a major campaign donor to President Obama — and a co-founder of the Human Rights Campaign was just charged with raping a child. He has been to the white house several times, golfed frequently with the President and even flew on Air Force One several times. Anyone here if this guy raping a kid? Didn’t think so…
Hell, the Washington Post even assigned a “foreign affairs” reporter to this story full time. They have even gone thru and published some writings she did 20 some years again for her college news paper. Really?
I’m baffled as to why this is even a story, I really am. Someone that nobody knows or has ever heard of says something stupid on facebook and it’s a national story, this is so stupid.
Maybe because topics are limited?