Jessica Simpson royally ignores Bush

Los Angeles: Singer and actress Jessica Simpson doesn't think that charity begins at US President George W Bush's home.

Simpson has turned down an invitation to meet US President George W Bush because she was concerned about politicising her favourite charity.

Simpson who has albums like Sweet Kisses to her credit and has starred in 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 with facial deformities.

Simpson had allegedly declined a request to appear at the gala fund-raiser of the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) – even after she was invited for a meeting with Bush – since Operation Smile is a non-partisan group.

Though, Simpson keeps her political views private, it has been found out that she did not feel right about meeting Bush.

She reasoned that she would love to meet Bush to discuss her project but wouldn't want to do it at a fund-raiser for the Republican Party.

NRCC is surprised at Simpson's snub and said that other stars never had problems in meeting political leaders during fund-raisers.

NRCC found it hard to believe that Simpson would pass up an opportunity to lobby with the President on behalf of Operation Smile.

Although Simpson's publicists insisted that she never had plans of attending the fund-raiser, NRCC said that the actress initially accepted the invitation, only to change her mind the next evening.

NRCC said that the Republican group had even arranged for Simpson to dine at one of the head tables with US House of Representatives Majority Leader John Boehner, an Ohio Republican.

The NRCC hopes the $US 2500-a-plate dinner event will raise $7.5 million for Republican candidates in the congressional midterm elections in November.

Simpson 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 after a troubled marriage.