Jessica Simpson Snubs Bush

Jessica Simpson pulled out of a planned meeting with President George W. Bush tonight, because she is concerned about "politicizing" the charity she supports. The 25-year-old still plans to lobby members of Congress in Washington, D.C. today in her representative role for Operation Smile-a non-profit charity that offers cosmetic surgery to facially disfigured children from around the world. And Simpson has turned down an invitation to meet with President Bush at a major Republican Party fund-raising event on the same day, because she doesn't want to affiliate herself to a political organization. A Simpson aide tells Reuters, "It just feels wrong. 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." But the National Republican Congressional Committee is surprised by her decision. Spokesman Carl Forti says, "It's never been a problem for Bono. "I find it hard to believe she would pass up an opportunity to lobby the president on behalf of Operation Smile."