US
President Barack Obama's daughters Sasha and Malia have been accused of
showing disrespect and lacking "class" by a Republican official after
their appearance at a Thanksgiving ceremony.
Elizabeth Lauten, communications director for congressman Stephen Fincher, made her comments in a Facebook post, since deleted.
After sharp criticism, Ms Lauten apologised for her "hurtful words".
She had drawn attention to the short skirts worn by the Obama girls.
She
had also accused the two teenagers of looking bored when they stood
with their father at the traditional turkey pardoning event at the White
House, when the president spared two birds from the national dinner
table.
The president and his wife have striven to protect Sasha (centre) and Malia (right) from media intrusion
While
most commentators reported humorously on what they saw as the
uninterested expressions of Malia, 16, and Sasha, 13, throughout the
ceremony, Ms Lauten was notably more outspoken.
Her
deleted post reads: "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."
The post goes on to advise the girls to "rise to the occasion and act like being in the White House matters to you".
"Dress like you deserve respect, not a spot at a bar," she added.
'Hours of prayer'
In
her apology, Ms Lauten wrote: "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.
"I'd
like to apologise 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."
She
pointed out that she "had judged the two young ladies in a way that I
would never have wanted to be judged myself as a teenager".
Sasha and Malia are among the youngest presidential children at the White House for years.
Their parents have strived to protect them from media attention as they go to school, play sports and socialise.
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