Obama daughters attacked for wearing short skirts

Sasha and Malia Obama were criticised for
their outfits at the annual turkey pardoning
event at the White House

Traditionally, it's a time for Americans to
come together in a spirit of harmony. But
when you are the daughters of Barack Obama,
it seems tradition goes out of the window.
After 16-year-old Malia and Sasha, 13, were
pictured looking a little bored at a White
House Thanksgiving ceremony they found
themselves under attack from one of their
father's political opponents.
Elizabeth Lauten, a communications director
for a leading Republican, claimed the girls
looked as though they were dressing for a
"spot at the bar" when they appeared with
their father to pardon the Thanksgiving turkey
– an annual Washington event in which the
President spares a bird from the slaughter.
In an online post, she asked Malia and Sasha
to "try showing a little class" after they wore
short skirts and ankle boots, with Malia in
black tights and Sasha bare legged.
But Miss Lauten was forced to apologise for
her "hurtful" words when a backlash flared up
accusing her of cyber bullying, and the
hashtag #FireElizabethLauten began trending
on Twitter.
Miss Lauten's Facebook post, which has since
been deleted, read that she understood the
girls were in "those awful teen years" but
urged them to "at least respect the part you
play".
She added: "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."
Miss Lauten is a former national media
director for the Republican party. She currently
works for Stephen Fincher, from Tennessee,
who is a member of the House of
Representatives.
In her apology she said: "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.
"Furthermore, I'd like to apologise to all of
those who I have hurt and offended with my
words, and pledge to learn and grow (and I
assure you I have) from this experience."