Recently in Celebrity Endorsements Category

Colombian pop star Shakira stopped by the White House Monday to meet with President Obama and Veep Joe Biden.  The singer, who is a long-time children's advocate,  discussed early childhood development issues with the president and veep. 

Shakira was in Washington on behalf of the ALAS Foundation, a nonprofit coalition of Latin artists, a nonprofit coalition of Latin artists, business leaders and intellectuals that promotes public policies in support of early childhood education in Latin America.  Shakira is also a Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF and the founder of the Barefoot Foundation, which focuses on creating access to education for children.

After her White House visit, Shakira headed to the World Bank to announce the World Bank's Early Child Development Program, which will spend $300 million on children's educational programs in Latin America and the Caribbean. 

Above, check out the video of Shakira's World Bank appearance and watch her discuss child development issues with Greta Van Susteren on FOX News over here.

Sarah Jessica Parker

The President's Committee on Arts and Humanities just got a little more fashionable.  Sarah Jessica Parker and Vogue editor Anna Wintour are new members of the Committee.

Other celebs just named to the Committee are Forrest Whitaker, Alfre Woodard, Edward Norton and Yo-Yo Ma.

According to its website, the Committee works with "the three primary cultural agencies - National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) - to initiate and support key programs; to recognize excellence in the fields of arts and humanities; and to encourage private-public partnerships around those disciplines." 

The Committee was established in 1982.

Nicole Kidman testified before before the House Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Wednesday.  She asked for $1 billion to help combat violence against women around the world.

Ms. Kidman wore a black pant suit, nutral makeup and her hair styled in large, loose curls. 

Nigel Barker, Rep. Nita Lowey and Pam Barnes.  Photo credit: Nigel Barker, LLC  

When it comes to helping children and families with AIDS, Nigel Barker is a "top model" advocate.  Barker, who is best known as a photographer and judge on America's Top Model, is a longtime supporter on the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation and champion for public policies that help children with AIDS. 

Barker recently accompanied  the foundation's president and CEO, Pam Barnes, to Capitol Hill for an advocacy visit with Congresswoman Nita Lowey (D-NY).  Barker and Barnes spoke with the congresswoman about the foundation's policy work; programs in Africa preventing HIV transmission from mothers to infants; and treating children, mothers, and families living with the virus.

Barker was also shooting material for an upcoming documentary about the foundation's history and current efforts to eradicate pediatric AIDS. He recently traveled to Tanzania filming clinics suppoted by the foundation and talking to mothers and children with AIDS. The documentary is scheduled to have its premiere at an event in DC sometime in the fall.

Big and Rich.

Is that the name of a band or the description of a dream husband? (That. was so. bad. Just tasteless really.)

Anyway, Big and Rich is an American country duo comprised of Big Kenny and John Rich.  One member of the duo, Rich, is known for his politics as much as his music.  He openly supported John McCain during campaign '08, and even wrote a song - Raisin' McCain - for him. 

Now Rich is publicly expressing his opinion again with song.  He ain't happy about the corporate bailouts that the auto and banking industries received from the U.S. government. Oooh, he's pipin' hot about it! And when a country singer gets mad, he doesn't get even...he gets to writing music.  (Well, if he writes a crappy song and you have to listen to it, then we guess it's fair to say that he gets even. But Rich usually writes good songs.) Anyway, here's the fruit of Rich's displeasure: Shutting Detroit Down .

Brad Pitt (center) on the Hill with House Majority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-SC).

...lookin' sha-mokin' hot!!!!

Oh, and lobbying....

Brad dropped in on Prez Obama at the White House to chat him up about continued efforts to rebuild New Orleans post-Katrina.  Then he swung by the Hill to touch base with House Majority Leader Nancy Pelosi about the same thing.  Brad's "Make It Right" foundation builds homes for residents of New Orlean's lower 9th Ward who lost their homes in Hurricane Katrina.

Watch this bit of political porno below. (He talks!   Giggle.)

Sarah Palin and your typical environmentalist - not exactly BFFs.  Actress, animal lover and environmental advocate Ashley Judd (in cahoots with Defenders of Wildlife) is taking potshots at Palin for her stance on wolf killing.  "I am outraged by Sarah Palin's promotion of aerial wolf killing - this cruel, unscientific and senseles killing has no place in America," Judd said.

You can watch Judd's video attacking Palin here.  Then check out articles by the Associated Press and Reuters if you would like more info.

Since the release of Judd's video, Palin has defended her policy as animal control. "Alaskans depend on wildlife for food and cultural practices which can't be sustained when predators are allowed to decimate moose and caribou populations," Palin said in a statement. "Our predator control programs are scientific and successful at protecting vulnerable wildlife."

So what's this brou ha ha over Proposition 8, and why did someone make a musical about it?

It all started when the California Supreme Court ruled that gay marriage is a-okay, opening the gates of matrimony to same-sex couples.  Gay rights opponents were appalled, so they came up with Proposition 8: a California ballot initiative that sought to change the California state constitution to restrict marriage to boy-girl couples only.

Prop 8 passed with flying colors (presumably not rainbow colors) and gays could marry no more...   Hence the drama. 

Gay and gay friendly Americans were angry and offended, so they began to protest.  Some picketed, others wrote articles, and one - Academy Award and Tony Award winner Mark Shaiman - created a musical with an all-star cast, great show tunes and dancing.  Fabulosity aside, the gist of the musical is this: Prop 8 = hate.

Asked by Keith Olberman how the muisical came about, Shaiman said "As you can tell from the video, it clearly all started when I was born really, really gay...."

Elisabeth Hasselbeck introduced Sarah Palin at a rally in Tampa this weekend. 

"As you can see, Sarah Palin sure is a woman who knows how to dress," Hasselbeck said. "I'm actually personally most impressed, you know, by her accessories, like the flag pin that she wears...."

We noticed that Hasselbeck's speech style, intonation and mannerisms  are almost identical to Sarah Palin's.  Shared speech coach, perhaps? If we weren't watching Hasselbeck, we would think Palin was speaking.  Just an observation...

Anyway, Hasselbeck did well, looked great and got a warm reception from the crowd.  Here's a clip of her speech.

Ever wonder whatever happened to the whassup guys from the Budweiser commercial?  Yeah, we never cared either. But here's an update on them anyway...