Malia and Sasha Obama, ages 16 and 13, were very publicly slammed via Facebook after the annual turkey pardoning in the White House.

Elizabeth Lauten, communications director for a Tennessee congressman, posted a status on her public Facebook account advising the girls to “try showing a little class” and even went on to say they should “dress like they deserve respect, not a spot at a bar.”

These statements received a great deal of negative attention from the press and Lauten has since resigned and made an apology on the same account. The Mentor editorial board had a discussion regarding not only her comments, but also if it was appropriate for her to be forced to step down from her position.

It goes without saying that republicans will slam democrats and democrats will slam republicans because that’s just the way it works. However, a whole new line is crossed when you drag family members, especially young girls, into this public bashing. Despite their father being the president and them residing in the white house, they’re still teenagers. It’s understandable in some aspects that they’re held to a higher standard