Jessica Simpson Skips Meeting With Bush

Jessica Simpson was a no-show at a major Republican gala where she was scheduled to meet with President Bush.

Blame the snub on plastic surgery.

The blonde star of "The Dukes of Hazzard” had agreed to attend the fund-raiser for the National Republican Congressional Committee in Washington on Wednesday night and was offered some private time with the president.

Simpson is promoting Operation Smile, a non-profit venture offering free plastic surgery to children overseas with facial deformities.

She canceled her planned attendance at the GOP fund-raiser at the last minute because Operation Smile is a nonpartisan group.

"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,” a source close to the actress told Reuters.

NRCC spokesman Carl Forti said Republicans were surprised at Simpson’s stance.

"It’s never been a problem for Bono,” he said, referring to the U2 rocker who has met regularly with a range of political leaders to lobby for various causes.

"I find it hard to believe she would pass up an opportunity to lobby the president on behalf of Operation Smile.”