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Bush snubs Crowe, but not porn star
Actor's arrest cost him dinner date, but actress' bust doesn't scare GOP


WASHINGTON – Russell Crowe's phone-throwing tantrum at a New York hotel cost him a dinner date with President Bush and a sleepover at the White House.

But a bust two weeks ago of a XXX-rated porn star so far hasn't deterred the president from plans to speak before a GOP congressional fund-raiser Tuesday with her and her pornographer boss among the invited guests.

Crowe, 41, the Australian star of "Gladiator" and "Master and Commander," had been invited to dine with the president and host a private screening of his new film, "Cinderella Man," about a boxer, before spending the night at the White House.

But his antics in the Mercer Hotel foyer last Monday morning had White House officials on the phone to cancel the engagement.

Officially, Crowe canceled the arrangements himself as a courtesy measure to save President and Mrs. Bush, Laura, any embarrassment. A White House spokesman cited "scheduling problems" for the cancellation.

Crowe allegedly hurled his room's cordless Panasonic phone at concierge Nestor "Josh" Estrada after being unable to get through to his wife, Danielle Spencer, in Australia. The phone was described in the New York police charge sheet as a "dangerous and deadly instrument." He faces up to eight years for the alleged assault, for which he has apologized.

The cancellation of the get-together, however, is a stark contrast to the president's continuing controversial plans to permit porn star Mary Carey and her pornographer boss, Mark Kulkis, to attend a $2,500-a-plate fund-raiser for the National Republican Congressional Committee this week.

The 24-year-old XXX-rated actress will accompany her boss, president of Kick A-- Pictures, at "The 2005 President's Dinner and Salute to Freedom."

The idea of the president of the United States publicly rubbing elbows with pornographers and accepting money from them is shocking to some, including Rev. Don Wildmon, chairman of the American Family Association.

"The reason these people are doing this is for publicity and to embarrass Bush," Wildmon told WND. "I think the Republicans can survive this, but they need to go public with an explanation. They need to exclude them or withdraw the invitation. Just doing nothing is the worst thing they can do."

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.

"I kind of wanted to be a porn star," she said. "I wasn't raped or abused."

She maintains pornographic movies don't harm anyone, and are beneficial in a way, providing safe fantasies for the "lonely" public.