Congressional aide Elizabeth Lauten to resign after criticizing President Obama's children

Story by Reuters
Written by Bill Trott

A Congressional aide who recently criticized President Barack Obama's teenage daughters on social media told NBC News today that she would resign.

Elizabeth Lauten (photo left), Communications Director for Republican Representative Stephen Fincher of Tennessee, had said via a Facebook post that President Obama's daughters, Malia, 16, and Sasha, 13, needed to show "a little class," complaining they appeared to look disinterested last week during an appearance with their father at a White House pre-Thanksgiving ceremony at which he had "pardoned" a turkey.

Her post unleashed a backlash on social media, prompting Lauten to later apologize on Facebook for her comments.

Children of Presidents have generally been off limits for criticism in Washington.

"Act like being in the White House matters to you," Lauten said in the Facebook post last week.

She also took a shot at the President and the First Lady, saying the President's daughters did not have good role models.

On Monday, Lauten told NBC News that her resignation from Fincher's staff was "in the works."

No one in Fincher's office was available to confirm Lauten's plans.