Why the Attack on the Obama Girls Matters

Elizabeth Lauten, former PR representative for Congressman Stephen Fincher(R) of Tennessee, has resigned from her job after an facebook posting on the Obama girls went viral.  

“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.

The hashtag #fireelizabethlauten was trending on twitter for a time and this facebook post got a great deal of media attention.  It likely got way more attention that it deserved, but it did deserve some attention.  One of the things that makes me a conservative is the fact that I believe in family and family values.  I want to associate myself with those that have those same beliefs.  Now I am not saying that only conservatives have family values and that my definition of what that means is the only true definition.  I know plenty of liberals who are great parents and put a great deal of time and effort in being the best parents and want the same types of things for the next generation that I do.  But I don't believe that the democrats put family first, I think they put government first.  That I strongly disagree with and I am willing to stand up and fight against it.  I believe that putting government first gets in the way of forging strong family bonds that is a cornerstone of society.  

Do I think that losing her job was really necessary?  There is a part of me that says no, but deep down I have to say I agree with the decision of her leaving her position as the Public Relations person for a sitting congressman.  A congressman who has a section on website labeled Christian Values.  Since when did a grown PR professional attacking a 13 and 16-year-old girl become a Christian Value?  

I am getting a little sick and tired of hearing, well what about the Bush girls?  What about the Palin children?  I have written extensively on how young children of people running for high office should be off limits.  They have made no choice in the matter of what their parents do.  I have also been quite clear that I hold people who have young children running for high office with more than just a tad of suspicion.  I question the judgement of people putting their kids in that type of fishbowl.  Because that is exactly what it is.  But in any event, I don't care to play a game of tit for tat.  It is unseemly at best.  Nor does it actually solve anything.  

If the base of the GOP want the party to represent family values; which many do, then start acting like you respect them yourself.  Saying that a 13-year-old is dressed for a bar because of the length of her skirt doesn't quite have that feeling of respecting families to me.  

Politics, much like reality, is largely about perception.  The perception for Congressman Fincher is that he had a PR person that didn't care all that much for those values that he runs on.  Those values that have led him to a life a public service.  Those values that are supposed to be a guiding force in the votes that he casts not just for his own district, but those that could affect every American across the country.  

While it may not "fair" that Ms. Lauten lost her job, it is the perception of what she did that made it impossible for her to continue to work for a person that says he cares about families and Christian values.  More to the point, life isn't fair.  It never has been and it never will be. 

I don't want to people who give me lip service about those values.  I don't want people who decide that taking the moral high ground is too much work.  Yes the left goes after the children of conservatives.  David Letterman paid virtually no price for going after Willow Palin.  But David Letterman is self-employed and doesn't work for a sitting member of congress, whereas Elizabeth did.  Trying to compare the two is apples and oranges.  

If conservatives want to fight for family values, standing by a young woman who felt that is was acceptable to go after two underage teenagers isn't the way to go about it.  

Ms. Lauten will be just fine.  She will find another position.  The notoriety that she has received from this almost guarantees that.  But people justifying her behavior, and sadly some are, will only serve to give the calls of hypocrite more credence.  Actually take a stand for the values that you say you believe in, even when someone on your "side" makes an error in judgement makes an unwarranted attack on children.  If not, don't talk about your family and Christian values.  You obviously don't really mean it, it is just lip service.  This isn't about elections, this isn't about winning or losing, it is about right and wrong.  Leave underage children of politicans alone.  

President Obama and the Lame Stream Media Excuses for Him -

The lame stream media is continuing with its excuse making for the President. Time Magazine has an online article regarding the fact that the Obama’s did not attend church services over the Christmas holiday. While it really isn’t our business if they go to church or not, there are several things that I find fascinating about the article. The first being the excuse that the author uses, “concerns about crowds and displacing regular worshippers has prevented them from finding a new religious home during their first year here”. Really?



President Clinton was very popular during points of his presidency. Until Obama’s election, he was one of the most beloved Presidents of the black community, which as you may know, the District is a majority black city. He and Hillary attended church on a regular basis.


If this was truly the reason, the first family would never leave the white house. The District of Columbia is demographically a very pro-Obama city. Only about 10% of the registered voters are republicans. He has attended his daughter’s soccer games, and has taken them out for ice cream. Since I live in the area my local news comes out of the district, I see pictures in the paper and the local news stories about him and the first lady joining Sasha and Malia on their activities. The first lady took at least one of the girls to the Hannah Montana concert, the whole family went to see Michelle’s brother while he was coaching a college basketball game at the Verizon Center. My gosh, even I have seen the man three times since he has taken office. That cannot possibly be the reason. I certainly am not out there looking for him. My most recent sighting was at Home Depot when I was trying to run errands. I needed an extension cord and molly bolts, not a run in with him.


Another thing that I found very interesting in the article was a comment that was made by Sasha during a visit to the local Children’s hospital. Sasha was asked by one the kids they were bringing cookies to if Christmas would be different now that they are the first family: "I don't think anything will be very different,” Ah, out of the mouth of babes. Not attending church at Christmas is not considered unusual to her.  I think that this is crux of the issue.


A person of deep faith, as President Obama has purported himself to be, would never want his children to not attend services for period that has extended this long. It has been well over a year, probably getting close to two years, since the Obama’s have cut ties with The Trinity United Church in Chicago. While it is entirely possible to teach your children the tenets of your faith without attending services, the factor that is missing is the fellowship that comes with attending a house of worship on a regular basis. This is especially true during times of a major holiday. For Christians, this would be both Christmas and Easter. There is nothing like attending church at Christmas. The flowers are beautiful. Everyone is so happy in church during the services over Christmas. It is not only a magical time for the kids; it is a sacred time for the faithful. The plays and pageants are very touching, especially the ones that are done by the younger kids. They are so proud to be involved. I remember while I was growing up, come hell or high water, I went to church on Sunday mornings. Missing Sunday school classes was not acceptable. But somehow for the Obama’s it is acceptable for their children to miss services and Sunday schools classes for this long. I find the two points of him being a person of deep faith and keeping his children out of church for this long to be diametrically opposed to one another.  The question then becomes why did he lie about it?  Could it be that the Trinity Church in Chicago is the place to be for black politicans?  The real ties that bind. 


For a different take on this story visit Another Black Conservative. He always has an interesting point of view on things.