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Jessica Simpson Snubs Bush
Reuters ^

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.


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: 98degrees; badmusic; badsinger; blond; blonde; ca; computerassociates; divorce; facialsurgery; jessica; jessicasimpson; lachey; marriage; nick; nicklachey; notalent; performer; simpson; singer; smiletrain; snub; wedding
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To: Keith in Iowa
She ain't Hillary-ugly

Keith in Iowa, ladies and gentlemen...Master of the understatement. ;o)


21 posted on 03/15/2006 8:21:46 PM PST by TheBigB (Try Ma Skillett's Funky Fritters!)
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To: doesnt suffer fools gladly
"I find it hard to believe she would pass up an opportunity to lobby the president on behalf of Operation Smile."

It's a private organization - she doesn't need to be there lobbying some politician (who already steals and squanders far, far too much of our money) to grab more taxpayer dollars for her pet project.

Ms. Simpson is right on. Leave the professional politicians the hell out of something for a change.

22 posted on 03/15/2006 8:22:28 PM PST by Hank Rearden (Never allow anyone who could only get a government "job" attempt to tell you how to run your life.)
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To: Vision

She turned down an invitation to a party fundraiser, not a walk in the Rose Garden. It pays to understand the difference between the two.


23 posted on 03/15/2006 8:22:57 PM PST by Melas (What!? Read or learn something? Why would anyone do that, when they can just go on being stupid)
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To: TheBigB

read the rest of my previous post - the part after the comma...


24 posted on 03/15/2006 8:23:02 PM PST by Keith in Iowa (New SeeBS-News promo theme: If the facts don't fit, we'll make up sh*t.)
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To: Vision
She turned down an invitation from the President, which makes me think she's a frickin' vapid loon.

She turned down an invitation lest his appearence politicize an issue she cares about. Pres. Bush is one of the most polarizing political figures in recent memory; she could ill-afford to have that polarization turn off a public she relies upon both for this charity and her very livelihood.

Now, personally, I'd prefer she took the approach Bono takes - he'll talk to anyone who will listen about his issues (global poverty), leading to odd alliances between the rocker and Jesse Helms. That said, Jessica Simpson's judgment is not entirely faulty in this instance.

25 posted on 03/15/2006 8:23:28 PM PST by jude24 ("The Church is a harlot, but she is my mother." - St. Augustine)
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To: Keith in Iowa
but she ain't the goddess the media & some guys here make her out to be either.

You don't think she's hot? C'mon. You'd do her in a nano-second.

26 posted on 03/15/2006 8:23:34 PM PST by Extremely Extreme Extremist (None genuine without my signature)
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To: doesnt suffer fools gladly

What a loss. What a tragedy. What is this world coming to?!!!


27 posted on 03/15/2006 8:24:43 PM PST by La Enchiladita (United we stand, divided we fall.)
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To: Extremely Extreme Extremist

>>> You don't think she's hot? C'mon. You'd do her in a nano-second.

Tepid, and no, I would not.


28 posted on 03/15/2006 8:24:54 PM PST by Keith in Iowa (New SeeBS-News promo theme: If the facts don't fit, we'll make up sh*t.)
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To: doesnt suffer fools gladly
I saw a program about operation smile a few days ago and these people are doing God's own work.

Actually, I agree with her on this. BTW, I think she is pretty but not gorgeous. Her figure may be too sexy if there is such a thing.

29 posted on 03/15/2006 8:26:42 PM PST by yarddog
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To: Keith in Iowa
Tepid, and no, I would not.

Comment would have been removed by Moderator, so I'll keep my mouth shut.

30 posted on 03/15/2006 8:26:51 PM PST by Extremely Extreme Extremist (None genuine without my signature)
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To: doesnt suffer fools gladly
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.

I think she got scared that she would be siting next to a boner. Remember she isn't very bright

31 posted on 03/15/2006 8:27:27 PM PST by Echo Talon
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To: Melas
She turned down an invitation to a party fundraiser, not a walk in the Rose Garden. It pays to understand the difference between the two

She's been very public about being a Republican. Her priorities are out of whack at best.
32 posted on 03/15/2006 8:27:40 PM PST by Vision ("There are no limits to growth because there are no limits of human intelligence" Ronald Reagan)
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To: doesnt suffer fools gladly
Cut her some slack, now. If I wanted face time for my favorite charity, I would have agreed to meet with Clinton, Carter, Johnson, Kennedy Truman. But just not at a fund-raiser.
33 posted on 03/15/2006 8:28:28 PM PST by Larry Lucido
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To: jude24

Post 32


34 posted on 03/15/2006 8:28:34 PM PST by Vision ("There are no limits to growth because there are no limits of human intelligence" Ronald Reagan)
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To: Extremely Extreme Extremist

Airbrushes do a lot....


35 posted on 03/15/2006 8:28:34 PM PST by goodnesswins ( "the left can only take power through deception." (and it seems Hillary & Company are the masters)
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To: Vision

I disagree. I respect her greatly for not wanting to politicize her charity work. Good for her.


36 posted on 03/15/2006 8:28:39 PM PST by Melas (What!? Read or learn something? Why would anyone do that, when they can just go on being stupid)
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To: doesnt suffer fools gladly

Dixie Chick.


37 posted on 03/15/2006 8:29:22 PM PST by Cringing Negativism Network
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To: Melas
I respect her greatly for not wanting to politicize her charity work. Good for her.

Agreed. More celebrities should follow suit.

38 posted on 03/15/2006 8:29:31 PM PST by Wormwood (Iä! Iä! Cthulhu fhtagn!)
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To: doesnt suffer fools gladly

If this continues I don't see how he can possibly get elected again in 2008!


39 posted on 03/15/2006 8:29:38 PM PST by The Brush
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To: Melas
I disagree. I respect her greatly for not wanting to politicize her charity work. Good for her

OK, do you want an award or something for agreeing with her public insult to the President?
40 posted on 03/15/2006 8:30:44 PM PST by Vision ("There are no limits to growth because there are no limits of human intelligence" Ronald Reagan)
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