Elizabeth Lauten, communications director for Tennessee Representative Stephan Fincher, has found herself in hot water. Lauten, a Republican, made an offensive comment on Facebook regarding President Obama’s daughters, Sasha and Malia, at the White House turkey pardoning ceremony. She commented on their clothes and facial expressions and said that the girls needed to “try showing a little class.” Lauten’s remarks also show that she clearly holds the President in low esteem. Her comments were written as if in a letter to Sasha and Malia, and she noted that the girls “are coming up a little short in the ‘good role model’ department.” Her comments might have been accepted if she had criticized the President directly, but unfortunately, she chose to make his children the subject of her rant.
The media has criticized Lauten extensively. Most people agree that the children of the President of the United States should not be put in the spotlight. Chelsea Clinton, daughter of Bill Clinton, was similarly criticized in the media. Radio Host Rush Limbaugh called her ugly and compared her to a dog. Limbaugh rightly took a lot of heat for these comments. Just because their father is in politics does not mean that these children are fair game for reporters. While almost all children of American Presidents have ended up in the news at some point or other, for the most part, the press generally keeps them off limits. Lauten stepped over the unwritten line.
Lauten has since resigned and apologized. She even posted on twitter that she judged the President’s daughters unfairly, noting that she herself wouldn’t have wanted to be judged at that age either. But even an apology won’t get Lauten her job back. She has learned the hard way that one should never criticize the children of the President.