Elizabeth Lauten Resigns: Republican Aide Who Said Obama Daughters Malia and Sasha Don't Dress With Respect Leaves Position
Elizabeth Lauten, the Republican aide who chided Malia and Sasha Obama for their outfits and "classless" attitudes during the White House turkey pardoning ceremony last week, resigned on Monday.
Lauten, the communications director for Republican Rep. Stephen Fincher, told NBC News that her resignation is "in the works."
The disparaging comments about the president's children were made on social media. In a Facebook post that has since been removed but was posted by The Root on Saturday, Lauten said that she understands that the Obama daughters (aged 16 and 13) are in the awful teen years, but they should realize that they are part of the first family and respect the part they had to play.
Lauten went on to suggest that they did not likely have good role models in their parents, Barack and Michelle Obama, who, Lauten wrote, did not respect their own positions or nation very much.
“Act like being in the White House matters to you,” Lauten's post said. “Dress like you deserve respect, not a spot at the bar.”
After the post went viral, Lauten issued an apology stating that "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 (place) in my heart.”
When asked about the topic at a press briefing on Monday afternoon, White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said he was "taken aback" that Lauten used the occasion of a Thanksgiving event to criticize members of the first family.
Although the Republican National Committee spokesman Sean Spicer denounced Lauten's remarks, according to the New York Daily News, he also criticized the media for its coverage.
Elisa Doucette, writing for Forbes, felt that the apology “carries this hard-to-shake implication that you are not REALLY sorry you did it, you are instead sorry that people are outraged by it.”
Jessica Carter, chief of staff for Fincher, said Monday that Lauten had resigned and offered no additional comments regarding the matter.
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