It turns out that not even so innocuous (and ridiculous) an event as the Presidential pardoning of the Thanksgiving turkey is exempt from the shrill voices of the Republican echo chamber. Not when the President in question is Barack Obama, that is. This year, the President's now-teenage daughters, Malia and Sasha, attended the silly holiday event and, in the eyes of at least some spectators, appear to be bored. Perhaps they were. If they were bored, as far as I'm concerned, that merely shows that their parents and grandmother are doing a good job of raising them. If they were so superficial and idiotic as to think this idiotic tradition should be a source of fascination to them, I for one would be deeply disappointed.
But Elizabeth Lauten, the communications director for Rep. Stephen Fincher (R-Tenn.), felt that their facial boredom, as well as their clothes, were nothing less than a national scandal. Overlooking the fact that her job permits her to speak for her boss, and not herself, she decided to post the following on Facebook:
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. Nevertheless, stretch yourself. Rise to the occasion. Act like being in the White House matters to you. Dress like you deserve respect, not a spot at a bar. And certainly don’t make faces during televised public events.Dear Ms. Lauten:
Sasha and Malia are indeed in "those awful teen years." And, by all reports, they have handled themselves and the position in society that they did not choose to have in exemplary fashion. It's clear from the cheap shot at their parents you've tucked into your "letter" that you are just using them as a proxy for an attack on the President that you are not brave enough to make openly. Your lack of courage and character in this regard is your problem. Trying to make it a problem for these two young women, who have done nothing to you or your employer, is worse than reprehensible.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with the way they are dressed. This was not a formal event. It is a stupid public ceremony that should have been retired long ago. I'm sure they have much better things to do with their time (like their homework) than humor their father by putting in an appearance at it. Frankly, humoring him IS showing a little class.
And that doesn't even take into account the fact this President, and his family, have spent six years subject to the most vitriolic hatred to which any president has been subjected to since Lincoln. They have been the object of egregious racism. They have been subject to a level of public and physical threats greater than any modern President and his family have had to endure. And, thanks to the budget cuts approved by your employer's party, those threats have followed them all the way into the White House itself. If, after all of that, they look no worse than "bored," they've shown more class than your party has shown in the last six years.
As for your "apology," color me unimpressed. Your insulting post is out there on the Internet forever, where it will continue to inflict harm on Sasha and Malia, and provide aid and comfort to others who don't have the decency or the guts to criticize the President directly. And, if you truly needed prayer to understand that what you did was wrong, you have no business whatsoever working in public service.
I do have a suggestion.
If you want your apology to be taken seriously, then take your own advice and "show a little class." Or, at least, a little humility. Go to the White House in person, and meet with the President, the First Lady, and their daughters. Apologize in person. And take a little time to get to know all four of them as people. You will have demonstrated a true spirit of sorrow in the process, and you may end up making a small contribution to the public dialogue both sides of the political divide need to have.
And, on top of that, I'll forgive you as well.
Sincerely,
Stephen Rourke
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