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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsWhen GOP Staffer Put Obama Children ‘At A Bar,’ It Continued US Tradition of Trashing Black Females
In keeping with the Christian theme of her self-serving apology, Elizabeth Lauten has blessedly resigned from her post as the communications director for Rep. Stephen Lee Fincher (R-Tenn.). She had said prayer showed her the error of her ways, though one would think she would not need a higher power to tell her that trashing Malia and Sasha Obama for dress and demeanor at a turkey pardoning was not the best idea. But tucked into the usual partisan sniping of her original Facebook comments and expected swipes at President Obama and Michelle Obama through their children was something deeply disturbing and unsettling. Her rant against the girls read, Dress like you deserve respect, not a spot at the bar. Let that sink in. She placed two children ages 13 and 16 in a bar, a very adult setting a place where you can drink, flirt and, in some cities, smoke.
Thats not frivolous, but insidious. And its nothing new. Lautens mind traveled back to a disgusting place and time, when black women were disrespected, denied a spot on the pedestal of virtue white women occupied. Those views apparently alive and well excused the abuse and disregard of human beings judged not worthy of respect or consideration by people who prayed as hard as Lauten says she does. Ill bet Malia and Sasha Obama watch Disney movies, have crushes on members of boy bands and possibly still keep treasured dolls on the shelf or tucked away in a safe place. Thats how I was at that age still just a kid in so many ways. I wore a school uniform during the week and on weekends rebelled with mini-skirts that my dad may have kidded me about but didnt take too seriously because he knew I was a good kid.
Whether or not you agree with the presidents politics, the multigenerational, educated, high achieving Obama family has represented America well in the world. Malia and Sasha are beautiful and spirited, good students and athletes, and they clearly love their parents though they are occasionally embarrassed by them. They have joined the rest of the first family on global trips and philanthropic activities closer to home in Washington. But that thought could not enter Lautens mind. Sean Spicer doesnt get it either. While he condemned Lautens attack on the Obama girls, calling the comments inappropriate and insensitive, the Republican National Committee communications director said medias coverage of this story was appalling. Its as though neither can acknowledge that these kinds of comments come with historical baggage, created as justification for slavery and rape and continued in stereotypes of bad mothers and welfare queens. It continues, even as black women lead companies.
In a recent interview with Frank Rich in Vulture, comedian Chris Rock, who is more than just funny, talked about changes in racial attitudes and how they affect his own two young girls: The question is, you know, my kids are smart, educated, beautiful, polite children. There have been smart, educated, beautiful, polite black children for hundreds of years. The advantage that my children have is that my children are encountering the nicest white people that America has ever produced. Lets hope America keeps producing nicer white people. And that Lauten keeps praying. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/she-the-people/wp/2014/12/02/when-gop-staffer-put-obama-children-at-a-bar-it-continued-american-tradition-of-trashing-black-females-morality/
NoJusticeNoPeace
(5,018 posts)to INSULT the president and his wife, something about they dont respect the office they hold
NO HUMAN BEINGS IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD have more honored and respected the office they hold than the Obama's
forget his politics for a minute, not liberal enough for some of us some of the time, yes, but I dare ANYONE to show anything but the greatest respect and for the whole country when on a DAILY FUCKING BASIS over a third of the country treats them worse than anybody has been treated in a similar situation.
CurtEastPoint
(18,639 posts)as shabbily as President Obama has. Just shameful.
NoJusticeNoPeace
(5,018 posts)and one of the main reasons the CIA and friends did blow his head off was his attitudes about people not being the same as theirs
Same reason MLK had to be killed by the FBI
CurtEastPoint
(18,639 posts)I am sure there's lots of s**t we'll never know the truth about.
NoJusticeNoPeace
(5,018 posts)the right were OK with until Obama was...
The harm done by these vicious and disgusting racists may never be reversed.
Did you hear that the state of Florida has reversed all the pro green using the sun goals they had
GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
That doesnt sound coherent, I know
Guess I need to do a thread about it
FLPanhandle
(7,107 posts)However, Carter only had 4 years of abuse.
Obama is getting a full 8 years.
Rhiannon12866
(205,237 posts)He's always been a hero of mine. I'm just grateful he lived long enough to see it turn around.
big_dog
(4,144 posts)TexasMommaWithAHat
(3,212 posts)No child has been treated as badly as Chelsea Clinton. Yes, the "mainstream" media didn't treat her badly, but the right talking heads were cruel. And she was very young, also.
Later on, the Bush twins did make the news, and they should have been off-limits, as well, imo, even their so-called drinking indiscretions in college. What? A college student drinking?
Now, we have two young girls in the White House, and they are lovely girls whose personal lives should be OFF LIMITS. When they are standing there as members of the "first family" I would hope that they would act with grace and decorum, which they generally do. A couple of sighs. Some bored looks rarely. Big deal. They have been a pleasure to watch grow up.
Rhiannon12866
(205,237 posts)It's totally unbelievable. This goes way beyond partisanship and there times it makes me cringe.
NYC_SKP
(68,644 posts)"Lets hope America keeps producing nicer white people.
Yeah!
sadoldgirl
(3,431 posts)has become the main target in comparison to others, but I don't think
that the Clinton girl had it very easy.
Hekate
(90,645 posts)It was an appalling display on the part of Elizabet Lauten, and Gene Robinson got it to the core.
cheyanne
(733 posts)The NYT headline says "G.O.P. Aide Quits After Ridiculing Obama's Daughters".
My take is that Lauten did not ridicule the Obamas. Ridicule is mocking or making fun of someone. Ridicule would be someone writing that Lauten was worried that the turkey was offended by the Malia and Sacha.
Lauten wrote a viscious attack on their character and slut shamed them over their clothes. This was not "Ha, Ha, Malia's outgrown her skirt" comment. She sneers at their age. She accuses them of displaying disrespect for the Office of the President.
Did the NYT not recognize that this was not mockery.
big_dog
(4,144 posts)and she didnt even know she was doing it
jberryhill
(62,444 posts)"two children ages 13 and 16 in a bar, a very adult setting"
In the US, true.
http://www2.potsdam.edu/alcohol/LegalDrinkingAge.html
The average (mean) minimum legal drinking age around the globe is 15.9. The majority of countries have set the drinking age at 18. In fifty countries the minimum age is lower than 18 and in 12 countries it is higher than 18.
yardwork
(61,596 posts)Total dog whistle racist comment to say that about two children. Lauten channels the old idea that black women aren't deserving of respect, that all black females (even children) are hyper-sexual.
As a mother, I know how difficult it is to encourage teenagers to be "respectful." I can barely imagine how much more difficult it must be to be the parents of black children, always having to deal with these fucking racist stereotypes.
Lauten's comments made me so angry - including her lame, hypocritical non-apology - I admit that I was delighted to read that she was forced to resign. I really felt strong anger toward her.