Posted on 03/15/2006 8:11:39 PM PST by doesnt suffer fools gladly
Jessica Simpson snubs Bush Wed Mar 15, 2006 10:50 PM ET
By Steve Gorman
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Concerned about politicizing her favorite charity, singer-actress Jessica Simpson on Wednesday turned down a invitation to meet with U.S. President George W. Bush, a snub that left Republicans dismayed.
The apparent final word that Simpson would be a no-show at a major Republican fund-raiser with Bush and congressional leaders on Thursday night came after a day of conflicting reports from her camp and organizers of the event.
The blond star of the film "The Dukes of Hazzard" still plans to visit Washington on Thursday to lobby members of Congress on behalf of Operation Smile, a non-profit venture offering free plastic surgery for disadvantaged children overseas with facial deformities.
People close to Simpson said she declined a request to appear that same evening at the gala fund-raiser of the National Republican Congressional Committee -- even after she was offered some private face time with Bush -- because Operation Smile is a non-partisan group.
"It just feels wrong," one Simpson insider told Reuters on Wednesday, adding that the actress keeps her political views private. "She would love to meet the president and talk about Operation Smile ... but she can't do it at a fund-raiser for the Republican Party."
NRCC spokesman Carl Forti said he was surprised at Simpson's position.
"It's never been a problem for Bono," he said, referring to the U2 rock star who has met regularly with political leaders of all stripes to promote various causes, including Third World debt relief. "I find it hard to believe she would pass up an opportunity to lobby the president on behalf of Operation Smile."
Although Simpson's publicists insisted she never had planned to attend the fund-raiser, Forti said the actress initially accepted the NRCC invitation when it was extended on Tuesday night, only to change her mind the next evening.
Forti said the Republican group had even arranged for Simpson to dine at one of the head tables with U.S. House of Representatives Majority Leader John Boehner, an Ohio Republican. The NRCC hopes the $2,500-per-plate dinner event will raise $7.5 million for Republican candidates in the congressional midterm elections in November.
Simpson, 25, a Texas native who started out singing in her church choir, became a star on the Christian music circuit as a teenager and crossed over to the pop mainstream with her major-label debut album "Sweet Kisses" in 1999.
She became an overnight MTV sensation in 2003 as co-star of a reality show chronicling her first year of wedlock with fellow pop vocalist Nick Lachey, but she filed for divorce in December after three stormy years of marriage. Simpson is currently featured wearing cowboy boots and hot pants in a TV pizza ad.
Who cares.
Thanks :D What kind of name is that anyhow? Boehner? French?
It sounds like her main focus is on http://www.operationsmile.org/
Check it out, it may help your mindset. :)
Some charity...face lifts for deformed children overseas? What? She run out of good ones at home?
I knew you couldn't back up your statements, that's fine
Would it make any difference if you found out she was a "Bottle Blonde"
She did perform to the troops in Iraq.
That means something, at least to me.
I've never been a Jessica Simpson fan, but then I'm not a man and do not watch much television. I would suggest that the very fact that she turned down this appearance speaks well of her character. Yes, nobody may have asked her to politicize her charity BUT the fact remains that her appearance would have done just that. You want her to stop saying she's a Republican? I am not familiar with her politics, but if she's not a good enough Republican for you, then perhaps neither am I. LOL
Uh, who is it that makes him "polorized"? His enemies? Idiots?
Bush is in good company with Churchill (with whom he's related)...also "polarized" before he was proven right.
It's as stupid as calling something "controversial". The people that do that are usually the only ones that think it because someone doesn't agree with them.
You obviously are still skipping over the FACT that she was invited to a Republican FUNDRAISER. I and others are intelligent enough to know that the flaming libs and Dems will more than likely NOT support a charity that has anything to do with Republicans, or anyone who attends a FUNDRAISER for Republicans. It appears that she wants the FOCUS to be on the Operation Smile program. Do you really have a problem with that? Amazing....
You're a smarmy one ain't ya. Geez-louise, give my computer time to post and catch up with your rant.
She's been very public about being a Republican. Her priorities are out of whack at best.
I agree. Since she is a Republican, she could kill 2 birds with one stone by attending.
Shame on you! I'm typing and reading, and sending messages through cyberspace as fast as I can. Why don't you just stop your posting long enough to read the posts I've sent. You keep on posting before I even can get a message to ya.
And I'm not smarmy. I'm very matter of fact. You're kind of smarmy with all your "intelligent" talk.
SAY WHAT?? I've been RESPONDING to YOUR posts to me as fast as my fingers can type. And you're accusing me of "not giving up on this?" Go spread your flame war somewhere else, missy, or mister. You're obviously either being a dunce on purpose, or just plain nasty.
I have recently had several calls that hung up when I answered. I know its here. She must be shy now that she is single. (I know, I know. It's an crazy fantasy, but its mine!)
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