Jessica Simpson Snubs Bush

Reuters ^

[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.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

That's the problem, don't make it simple. Put some logic to it and then it will make sense

The poster did make it logical for you. Did you understand the hypocrisy that he pointed out?

[sport]

Who is Jessica Simpson?

[lepton]

Any airhead who compliments the Secretary of the Interior during a tour of the White House for the fine job done decorating it

I might do that too...though it would be a struggle to pull it off without the smirk creeping out.

[GSlob]

Wrong form of question. Ought to be "what is Jessica Simpson?"

[mysterio]

People are always saying, "shut up and sing." She did.

That's an interesting point.

[Chena]

"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."

I respect her for not wanting to politicize the non-profit charity, Operation Smile. Rather than insult her for her decision, I do hope that most folks here will applaud her for it. We don't appreciate it when the Hollywood crowd uses their celebrity for political purposes, but I for one do appreciate it when they use their celebrity to help a charity such as this.

[Vision]

By participating in a Republican Fund-raiser featuring President Bush, Simpson would alienate fully half of her audience (perhaps more, the guy isn't exactly popular right now)

I'll say it again, she has been very public with her support for the Republican party.(God forbid she supports those she says she does in the face of this minute's pubic opinion)

Why should she court negative public opinion when she is trying to promote a charity?

Because people are supposed to have character? Nobody is asking her to politicize her charity. The party asked her to stop by when she was in town and she said no. Which is her right, but I'd like her to stop saying she's a Republican.

[Chena]

She didn't want to alienate the liberal Hollywood Left and that's fine.

Or perhaps she did not want to politicize this charity set up for children. :)

[FreedomCalls]

[BurbankKarl]

polished floors?

[Chena]

What has this to do with "Shut up and sing"? She's not preaching her personal ideology. She turned down an invitation from the President, which makes me think she's a frickin' vapid loon.

Perhaps you missed the part that said she "would be a no-show at a major Republican fund-raiser with Bush and congressional leaders..." Perhaps she would not have turned down a "private" meeting with the President.

[mathurine]

who is she anyway? why should I give a shit what she thinks?

[FreedomCalls]

[roses of sharon]

LOL, she obviously more comfortable with Hollyweirds girly men, one less piece of trash the President has to mingle with.

[F.J. Mitchell]

Jessica Simpson.......is that Bart's sister?

[Vision]

Or perhaps she did not want to politicize this charity set up for children. :)

Can you PLEASE explain to me how that would happen? Bush has nothing to do with the charity. You're saying blue staters would not give to a charity for kids because it's run by a Republican? That's crazy.

[Chena]

OK, do you want an award or something for agreeing with her public insult to the President?

That seems to be more than a little over-the-top, don't ya think?

[nunya bidness]

Guess she's not going to star on the L Word then?

Oh no you di'int!

[Vision]

No and please answer 96

[Mordacious]

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

If I was a 13 year old boy, that would be really funny.
I'm not, and it still is :)