No ‘presidential pardon’ for Republican aide Lauten
Republican party staffer Elizabeth Lauten resigns after making scathing comments about the appearance and behaviour of the Obama daughters at the annual White House turkey pardoning event.
It was not just the turkey that was told to get stuffed on Capitol Hill this Thanksgiving, writes Hannah Miller.
Republican staffer Elizabeth Lauten has announced her resignation, after her Facebook “letter” to President Obama‘s daughters provoked outrage.
She told Sasha, 13, and Malia, 16, to “try showing a little class” after their dress sense and disinterest at Wednesday’s presidential turkey pardoning got many commentators into a flap.
Dress like you deserve respect, not a spot at a bar. Elizabeth Lauten’s message to President Obama’s daughters
Act like being in the White House matters to you. And certainly don’t make faces during televised public events. Elizabeth Lauten
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. Elizabeth Lauten
If you’re a parent would you allow your daughter 2 dress like this? Sasha Obama’s skirt is way too short. #SashaObama
http://t.co/ZOYx23ru2K
— Fran Farber (@FranMFarber) November 26, 2014
Granted, Obama’s youngest’s skirt wouldn’t have passed the fingertip length rule at my school, but it wasn’t a 9-11 memorial for god sakes
— jeanie doogan (@jeaniedoogan) November 30, 2014
Are people on my timeline really talking about Malia Obama’s skirt? Who cares how short it is? You have no right to comment on it.
— .:*Julia*:. (@JuliaInLights) November 26, 2014
The folded arms, the staring at the floor, the double side-eye – it was clear the daughters would have rather been somewhere else, anywhere else, than acting as props at a turkey pardoning. Watching their dad spare the lives of two turkeys, Mac and Cheese, from “a terrible and delicious fate” was not high on their agenda.
Sasha Obama is always a bit more “over it” than Malia. That said, they both have perfected the uninterested-teenage-daughter thing.
— Jonquilyn Hill (@jonquilynhill) November 26, 2014
Some objected that discussions about the first family’s wardrobe choices should be kept behind closed doors, while others pointed to a wider issue, suggesting the president’s daughters shouldn’t be used in political point-scoring.
Lauten apologised over the weekend, but it wasn’t enough to save her from political slaughter. And unlike Mac and Cheese, she’s not about to receive a presidential pardon.
Hannah Miller is Channel 4 News researcher in the US
