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.
I am sorry, but this is really not a snub to me. Besides I heard she voted for Bush in 2004.
If you think your comments have been brilliant and devastating I may suggest that you dust off the ole dictionary. Go find someone else to bait, this fish ain't biting.
I'm pretty sure that they could have called Ozzy to replace her.
who cares lets just looooooooooooooooook
Jessica Simpson belongs to that new generation of celebrities who are famous simply for BEING famous. One no longer has to have any talent of any kind to be a superstar. All you need is an agent who can get you onto a minimum of three supermarket tabloid covers per week, and you're set.
Because sooner or later, you find some sucker promoter who believes the hype and is willing to put you into vehicles you have no aptitude for, such as acting or singing. Then the tabloids finally get an excuse for putting you on their covers, which they were going to do anyway. And so the cycle continues on endlessly, and people like Jessica Simpson are shoved into our faces for years on end.
-Dan
Well how would we react if she visited a Dim fundraiser?
I'd guess German. Can you imagine the razzing the poor guy must've gotten in school over that name? I want to feel bad for him, but I went to jr. high with a guy who was saddled with Gaydick, so I know it could be worse.
"Jessica Simpson and her even dumber and less talented sister, Ashlee are as dumb as a box of hammers and rocks combined."
Yes-the really sad part of this story is that the Repubs even WANT her there. "Vote for us, slutty vapid morons do!"
You were posting so fast 'n furious that I highly doubt you even read or comprehended the points I was trying to make. I don't expect you to agree with other people's opinions, but I do expect a bit of maturity on this forum. Playing is for children, so nighty night little one. :)
Oh man! Gaydick.. yea that would be harsh!
NOT me....course, I'm a woman.....a NORMAL woman.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.