GOP staffer resigns after digs at Obama girls

Two turkeys were spared at the White House last, but a Republican congressional staffer’s goose was cooked in the aftermath.

Elizabeth Lauten, a former press secretary to ex-Rep. Joe Walsh, is apparently stepping down from her current post as a communications director to Rep. Stephen Fincher (R-TN). Lauten is taken to exit after criticizing the Obama daughters on Facebook over the weekend, then deleting the posts, then apolozing, then deleting the apology.

The dust-up began in silly fashion, even by Washington standards. Sasha, 13, and Malia Obama, 16, took part in the annual presidential pardon of Thanksgiving turkeys – Mac and Cheese. During the ceremony, the girls sported a few teen-honed eyerolls and declined the chance to pet the birds. Lauten seized on the opportunity to attack how the girls were dressed.

Lauten, who bills herself on her website as a digital and media relations specialist, posted a statement on her Facebook page accusing the Obama daughters of being classless and admonishing them to “respect the part you play.”

Lauten followed that post up with another Facebook page item – both were eventually deleted – calling Sasha and Malia out for lacking respect, class and, oddly, for being dressed more like they’re bar-hopping than helping pardon turkeys with President Dad:

The criticisms, though online briefly, did not go unnoticed. And the social media world exploded at Lauten and in defense of the girls, with both sides of the political spectrum calling out the innapropriate nature of criticizing two teens, regardless of political philosophy or feelings about the president. Lauten again took to Facebook to pen an apology, though one that was also quickly deleted:

The deleted apology only served to fan the flames through the weekend. And, on Monday, Lauten told NBC News that her resignation “is in the works.”