Politics and Policy Even Jessica Simpson isn't dumb enough to not recognize when she is being used by the Republicans. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11849399/ Jessica, like lots of Hollywood "stars", has a charity. Sometimes it is a cause the star really believes in. At other times, it is something cooked up by a public relations hack to beef up the star's image, and give them more free press opportunities. But Jessica seems to take her charity seriously. She is promoting "Operation Smile, a non-profit venture offering free plastic surgery for disadvantaged children overseas with facial deformities." In Washington D.C., she was lobbying Congressmen in connection with that charity work. But the President and Republican hacks generally saw this as a golden opportunity, and offered her some time to meet with the President. At first she agreed - gee, who wouldn't want to meet the President, if given a chance? But then she found out that the meeting with the President was actually an appointment to sit at the head table at a Republican fund-raiser. Maybe she would get a chance to speak with the President beyond a mere hand-shake and exchange of pleasantries, maybe not. But it was clear that she, and her charity, were being used for political purposes. Bush needs to boost his support in the "red states", and what better way than to imply that he is supported by the hot actress from the Dukes of Hazzard motion picture? Now politicians and actors use each other all the time, often for the same purpose of generating publicity. But Simpson saw that it would politicize her charity, and she opted out of the engagement. Now the Republicans are mad at her, saying such engagements are okay with Bono, why not her? But Bono is careful about his meetings with politicians, and attending a Republican fund raiser in a manner which would imply his support of the President's policies is something he also would not do. Besides, there is an IRS rule against a non-profit charitable organization directly supporting a candidate, legislation, or a political party. The IRS is pursuing attempts to revoke the non-profit status of a church in California where the pastor emeritus gave an "anti-war" sermon. If an actor wants to support a politician, fine. Let them do so in an open and unequivocal manner. But to try to trick an actor into implying support for a President and his party, under the guise of supporting their charity, and in a manner which could endanger the charity's non-profit status, is pretty underhanded. Posted by RHP6033        Copyright 2006-2007 - Brookridge Associates Inc. All rights reserved.