A senior staffer for a Republican congressman scolded President Obama 's daughters for dressing like `` they deserve a spot at a bar '' and told them to `` try showing a little class '' in a Facebook post that has since gone viral , drawing her heavy criticism and prompting calls for her dismissal . Elizabeth Lauten , communications director for Tennessee Rep. Steve Fincher and a former communications staffer for the Republican National Committee , wrote the screed against the First Daughters in a Facebook post on Thanksgiving . In it , she scolded them for their clothes and bored looks during Wednesday 's turkey pardoning , and took aim at the President and First Lady for failing to `` respect their positions . '' `` 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 , '' Lauten wrote in the post . `` Then again , your mother and father do n't respect their positions very much , or the nation for that matter , '' she added . `` So I 'm guessing you 're coming up a little short in the 'good role model ' department . '' While Sasha and Malia Obama , 13 and 16 years old , respectively , indeed both looked less than enthusiastic to accompany their father to the Turkey pardoning ceremony on Wednesday , their typically teenage glowers were met with amusement by multiple media outlets . Lauten , however , had some advice for the First Daughters , imploring them in the Facebook post to `` stretch yourself ... 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 . And certainly do n't make faces during televised , public events , '' she concluded . The post was tweeted out by a reporter for African-American media outlet The Root and quickly picked up traction across social media , prompting heavy criticism across the web . One Lauten detractor launched a petition on Change.org , a popular progressive organizing tool , calling for Lauten to be fired . Hours after the post went viral , Lauten returned to Facebook to publish an apology , admitting she `` 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 , '' she said . Lauten also pledged to `` learn and grow ... from this experience . '' Neither Lauten , her chief of staff Jessica Carter nor Fincher responded to requests for comment via email . The First Daughters , meanwhile , took an outing with their father to a local bookstore in Washington on Saturday , to highlight Small Business Saturday .
A Republican spokeswoman 's comments about Michelle Obama 's family is causing a stir " . The spokeswoman criticized the girls ' behavior and said they should n't roll their eyes at their dad .