The latest venom-spitting episode is totally unacceptable and indicative of mindless adversaries who care nothing for human kindness.
President Barack Obama's daughters Sasha and Malia have been accused of showing disrespect and lacking "class" by Elizabeth Lauten, a Republican official and communications director for Congressman Stephen Fincher, after their appearance at a Thanksgiving ceremony in what she considered "short skirts."
Lauten made her caustic comments in a Facebook post, since deleted. And, naturally, after sharp criticism, Ms Lauten, the mindful politician, wrote an apology (of sorts) for her "hurtful words." She pointed out that she "had judged the two young ladies in a way that I would never have wanted to be judged myself as a teenager."
("Obama daughters: Malia and Sasha Thanksgiving row apology."
BBC News November 30, 2014)
What did Lauten say?
Her deleted post reads:
"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."
The post goes on to advise the girls to "rise to the occasion and act like being in the White House matters to you".
"Dress like you deserve respect, not a spot at a bar," she added.
She had also accused the two teenagers of looking bored when they stood with their father at the traditional turkey pardoning event at the White House, when the president spared two birds from the national dinner table.
The President's daughters are adolescents. They smiled, nodded and laughed awkwardly like any teens would if they had been there while their father made a "dad joke" or two about pardoning the turkey. Lauten quickly took this awkward occasion to light up her Facebook page for the Obama haters.
When you write about 13-year-old Sasha and 16-year-old Malia, calling them "classless" and telling them "they look like they belong in a bar," you are a hateful, ignorant person. Lauten's apologizes for her mistake, but she misses the mark -- she should apologize to Malia and Sasha Obama.
Elisa Doucette of Forbes explains the problem with Lauten's sorrowful words. Here is her apology:
"I wanted to take a moment and apologize for a post I made on Facebook earlier today judging Sasha and Malia Obama at the annual White House turkey pardoning ceremony:
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. Please know, those judgmental feelings truly have no place in my heart. Furthermore, I’d like to apologize to all of those who I have hurt and offended with my words, and I pledge to learn and grow (and I assure you I have) from this experience."Doucette suggests a better apology:
"I wanted to take a moment and apologize to Sasha and Malia Obama for a post I made on Facebook earlier today judging them at the annual White House turkey pardoning ceremony:
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. Please know, those judgmental feelings truly have no place in my heart. Furthermore, I’d like to apologize to all of those who I have hurt and offended with my words, and I pledge to learn and grow (and I assure you I have) from this experience.""Treat the people you are apologizing to as if they are actual people, not pixels on a page. Say I’m sorry directly to them, acknowledge it was poor behavior, and promise to be better next time," says Elisa Doucette.
(Elisa Doucette. "The Art Of Online Apologies And Why Elizabeth Lauten
Failed Miserably At Hers." Forbes. November 30, 2014)
The Bottom Line
When adults with pent-up animosity lash out without understanding and compassion, they unleash
imbecilic, judgmental rhetoric. To attack children about fashion and so-called "tasteless behavior" is repulsive. To do so in the name of politics is even more disturbing. This is what happens when a party promotes total war on the President -- the idiots in their midst rise to every occasion to lambaste the Obamas.
In one way, a silver lining does emerge from this affront. Perhaps the nation will begin to realize mindless attacks of hatred on the President of the United States contribute to the swelling bandwagon of those who dwell in the land of Groundless Accusation. How easy it is for opposing political views to sway haters to terrible actions. When people viciously attack the First Family for nothing, it is time to stop the negative partisanship.
I don't know how President Obama withstands the lack of respect and cooperation he faces every day. Most of it comes from those who take little time to research the issues and who rely upon the bias of news from media outlets that make huge profits on pushing their viewpoints with a particular political spin.
Sasha and Malia, I am sorry you became victims of an angry, thoughtless politician. I hope you can ignore the stupidity of those who dislike you just for having the name "Obama." I believe Elizabeth Lauten is guilty not only of misspeaking but also of prejudice and discrimination. She certainly admits her flawed thinking about her politics and her understanding of judging teenagers. This also makes me wonder about her views on minorities and equality.
How about you?
Happy Thanksgiving, Ms. Lauten.
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