WASHINGTON – One PG-13 star turned down a meeting with President Bush at a major Republican fund-raiser today, but a XXX-rated star is still hoping to dazzle the leader of the free world.

Singer-actress Jessica Simpson, the star of "Dukes of Hazzard," spurned an offer to attend the National Republican Congressional Committee gala fund-raiser tonight because she didn't want to politicize her favorite charity. But Mary Carey, the XXX porn diva who caused an uproar last year for dining with President Bush and her pornography-promoting escort is looking forward to an encore engagement.

Simpson will be in town today 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. According to Reuters, those close to Simpson said she declined a request to appear that same evening at the fund-raiser for the NRCC -- even after she was offered a face-to-face, private meeting with Bush.

"It just feels wrong," said one unnamed Simpson associate. "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."

"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."

Forti said the actress initially accepted the NRCC invitation when it was extended on Tuesday night, only to change her mind the next evening. He 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.

Meanwhile, Carey, a former novelty candidate for California governor is to attend the United to Victory dinner with Bush tonight. She also had lunch at a related event yesterday where Bush adviser Karl Rove was the guest speaker.

She says she's taking part, for the second year in a row, at the invitation of the National Republican Congressional Committee, which is organizing the events.

"I'm really excited to be going back to Washington, D.C., to see the president again," said Carey. "Everyone thinks that politicians are stuffy, but we all had a great time last year, and I had fun signing a lot of autographs. Wait till they see that I have lost 20 pounds since the last time they saw me. Watch out Mr. President!"

The NRCC is the same group that accepted $5,000 from Carey and her pornographer, Mark Kulkis of Kick A-- Pictures, and allowed the pair to take part at the 2005 Flag Day Dinner.

Asked by WND last year about the propriety of the Republican Party collecting $5,000 from a pornographer and the example such an appearance set for the moral climate of the nation, White House press secretary Scott McClellan said: "I think you need to direct those questions to the committee itself."

When WND contacted the NRCC about the Flag Day event, Forti said, "They've paid their money. No matter what they do, the money is going to go to help elect Republicans to the House."

Carey, whose real name is Mary Ellen Cook, says she was named after the Mary Ellen character on "The Waltons" TV show. Born in Cleveland, she was raised in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., studied theater in college, and worked jobs in restaurants before trying stripping and then making the decision to enter the world of celluloid sex.

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