Locals react to Fincher aide’s resignation after Facebook post
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JACKSON, Tenn. — An aide to Rep. Stephen Fincher, R-Tenn., resigned after a weekend Facebook post criticizing the first daughters. Elizabeth Lauten, Fincher‘s communications director, stepped down after criticizing Malia and Sasha Obama in a Facebook post. “That’s what they’re wearing these days,” Jackson resident Johnny Hickerson said. “They’re young people. They’re not old like me.” “First off, I think that everybody’s entitled to their opinion, so that’s hers,” Jackson resident Christian Byler said. “That’s fine.” “That is very rude, and that shows that racism is prevalent now as it always been,” Jackson resident Clifton Love Jr. said. Lauten‘s post read in part, “Dress like you deserve respect, not a spot at a bar. And certainly don‘t make faces during televised public events.” The comments got mixed reaction from voters in Fincher‘s district that spans West Tennessee. “I don’t see anything wrong with it,” Hickerson said. “That’s my opinion.” “We is trying to enforce kids and to help kids not to be bullying, but here we have adults that’s doing the same thing,” Jackson resident Eugenia Williamson said. Lauten later apologized on her Facebook page. “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,” Lauten wrote. “I’d like to apologize to all of those who I have hurt and offended with my words, and I pledge to learn and grow (and I assure you I have) from this experience.” “They should talk to her about it and discipline her herself for having an ugly attitude,” Williamson said. “She should not have stepped down,” Byler said. “Why is she not allowed to have her own opinion or to express herself through the First Amendment? Everybody else is.” Fincher‘s Chief of Staff Jessica Carter said Monday Lauten resigned, but Carter had no additional comment on what she called a personnel matter. The White House has made no comment about Lauten‘s criticisms.
