Jessica Durando

USA TODAY

Republican Party staffer Elizabeth Lauten has resigned from her post as communications director for U.S. Rep. Steve Fincher, R-Tenn., after making controversial comments about Sasha and Malia Obama, Fincher's chief of staff confirmed Monday.

Jessica Carter had no additional comment on the matter, the Associated Press reports.

This morning, NBC News said she was "resigning today" after making the comments.

Lauten told NBC News via phone Monday that her departure was already "in the works," NBC reports.

Lauten apologized earlier on Facebook for "judging" the girls at the annual White House turkey pardoning event.

"I quickly judged the two young ladies in a way that I would never have wanted to be judged myself as a teenager," she said.

The communications director for U.S. Rep. Steve Fincher, R-Tenn., went on to say that "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."

The Facebook comments that created a media firestorm asked for the Obama girls to "show more class" during the annual event.

"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," Lauten wrote in a post on the social media website, which was later taken down.

She added, "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," NBC News reports.

DeWayne Wickham, a columnist for USA TODAY, says that Lauten's resignation is not surprising.

"As a Republican Party communications specialist, she was more of a bull in a China shop than an artful word merchant."

Diana Reese, contributor to The Washington Post, took aim at Lauten for her use of language, saying that she should not pick on Obama's kids.

"If Lauten were a mom, particularly of teen girls, she'd have a lot more empathy, I suspect, and she'd probably agree with me that kids in the White House should be off-limits to media scrutiny," Reese wrote.

Reese also drew a parallel to the comments that radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh made about Chelsea Clinton during the Clinton White House years. Limbaugh compared the pre-teen Clinton to a dog.

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