While President Obama is paying a visit across the pond, it seems Hollywood is having a meet-and-greet in D.C. Well, at least one star made her way to "The Hill" today. Jessica Alba is lobbying members of Congress to ban toxic chemicals in consumer products. She's joined forces with the Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families coalition in calling on our government to pass the Safe Chemicals Act.
Alba told Washington reporters that getting pregnant with her daughter Honor Marie four years ago changed the way she looked at things, and she quickly educated herself about the effect of environmental toxins on children's health.
Well, golly gee whiz! Isn't that AMAZING?! Okay, sorry, I just had to indulge my sarcasm for a moment, because the fact of the matter is that Alba is no anomaly. Plenty of other moms and educated citizens are well-aware of what's going on with all the bad-for-us crap in supposedly FDA- and USDA-safe products.
But for some reason, she's the one who's sitting in front of Congress today making a plea that they do something to protect all of us from nasty things that pollute our products -- from parabens to phthalates and everything in between.
I'm personally very invested in this cause, and I'd like to see progress at any cost. Even if it means we have Jessica Alba (not my fave) trotted out in front of starstruck Congresspeople to make the case. I'm sure that's what the Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families folks were thinking when they opted to bring her into their fold.
But it's still a little unnerving that Alba, who just happens to have enjoyed slight success as a movie star (but let's be honest, more so as eye candy for most straight American men), is the one our government is willing to listen to? What if you or I wanted to go down to the Hill and testify that we're afraid we're going to get breast cancer from the chemicals in our body creams, or we're sick of having to go out of our way to find sunscreens that aren't filled with neurotoxins for our kids? Would they really listen to little old us?
I'm not so sure. All I'm saying is ... it's unfortunate that it seems like in order to be heard in Washington, we have to start petitioning celebs to represent us and our causes. Maybe that's a reality we'll just have to resign ourselves to.
Does it irritate you that Jessica Alba's voice is being heard over regular American women?
Image via Guillermo Garron/Flickr
This Hot Dad Wants to Do Your Ironing
This Hot Dad Wants to Cook You Dinner
This Hot Dad Cooks AND Does the Dishes
Kanye West is Gay?! 
Comments 7
Sorry, I gotta go with Mike, quit your whining. At least Jessica Alba is doing something productive with her fame, that's a lot more than most "celebrities" do.
Seriously, you Stir writers need to find a different job! All I hear all day long from you guys is whining how this or that celebrity is doing/ not doing this or that, or OMG I can't believe she named her baby that. OR you guys want to get all political but you can't even do your research and get your facts straight. *SIGH* I really don't know why I bother.....
umm ever heard the phrase "money talks"...alba's got money so that speaks louder than what most women have in terms of money, quit your whining at least she's trying to do something , all you are doing is complaining.
Personally, I'm happy she's doing something positive with her wealth and noteriety, unlike some other celebrities. Is it worrysome that Congress listens to her and not average women? No, not really. She has money and sway and REALLY good lawyers. As long as they're willing to listen to someone, who cares who it is?
I agree with GlowWorm889 and Mike.
I got to agree with the majority of the commenters. I have no problem with Jessica Alba going in front of Congress promoting something positive. She is just a regular mother with a extraordinary job, does that mean her voice should mean less than anyone else's? I think it's the responsibility of those who do have the power and ability to create buzz and interest about important topics use that power. You yourself as a blogger know that you can reach thousands of women and as other bloggers here on The Stir bring topics to our attention that we might not have otherwise heard about or been aware of. Leave Jessica alone she is at least standing up for something important instead of some of the other frilly celebrities (Kim Kardashian, Paris Hilton).