GOP Staffer Who Called Obama Daughters Classless Was Arrested At 17

The Republican staffer for a GOP Congressman who ranted on Facebook that President Obama’s daughters should show some “class” was herself arrested when she was 17.

Just a few days ago, Elizabeth Lauten was a relative unknown GOP staffer, an aide to Republican Congressman Stephen Fincher of Tennessee. Like many people, she took to social media to complain about spending too much money shopping, or to weigh in on what has been happening in Ferguson.

Despite the fact that her previous job was the New Media Political Manager for the RNC, Lauten clearly didn’t understand all the rules, including that a President’s family should be off-limits.

She took to Facebook last week to denounce Shasha Obama and Malia Obama, the President’s daughters, for not displaying “class,” and managed to get in an ugly attack against the President and First Lady as well.

“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.”

As much of Twitter requested, Lauten, who offered an apology, resigned this morning.

But now it turns out that old adage is true, that those who protest too much might be hiding something themselves.

As it turns out, Lauten “was once arrested for larceny during her own ‘awful teen years,’ court records show,” the Smoking Gun reports today.

Lauten “was arrested in December 2000 for misdemeanor larceny, according to court records. Lauten, then 17, was collared for stealing from a Belk department store in her North Carolina hometown.”

Because Lauten was a first-time offender, her case was handled via the District Court’s deferred prosecution program, which resulted in the charge’s eventual dismissal after the future scold stayed out of trouble for a prescribed period.

Since Lauten was just another teenager caught shoplifting at the mall, it appears unlikely that she was publicly pilloried for her lack of class, nor were her parents criticized as poor role models.

Gawker adds, “It’s unclear if any congressmen’s communications directors publicly and stupidly slammed Lauten’s perfectly normal teenage behavior.”

Ironically, perhaps, Lauten served as the Press Secretary for failed one-term Tea Party congressman Joe Walsh (R-IL), whose outbursts are legendary. He posted this in her “defense.”

Lauten’s LinkedIn profile states her specialties are “Political strategy on social media platforms (particularly Facebook and Twitter).”

 

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