I am really sick and tired of celebrities using their celebrity status to promote their personal agendas when it includes reaching into my pocket. The latest to be getting a lot of press for this is the rock star Bono, who is with the group U2.

Recently he has even been traveling with the Secretary of the Treasury, Paul O'Neill, calling for more foreign aid for Third World countries. As the economist P.T. Bauer pointed out, foreign aid consists "of taking money from poor people in rich countries and giving it to rich people in poor countries." That’s a helluva a plan, Bono.

Some celebs, who don't think they have enough clout of their own, aren't above arm-twisting others. A couple of years back, Los Angeles Lakers head coach Phil Jackson took a year off from coaching to become an advisor to Bill Bradley during his unsuccessful run to become the Democratic Party's presidential nominee. Jackson arm-twisted his former Chicago Bulls star, Michael Jordan, for an endorsement of Bradley. He also got Michael to do commercials on Bradley's behalf. Jordan is notorious for staying completely out of politics. He never endorses anyone and just minds his own business. He never talks politics. Jackson must have really worked on Jordan for the Bradley endorsement. It was a totally disgusting move by Jackson.

Sometimes celebrities get a bit entrapped into adding some legitimacy to the imperial presidency when, for example, the teams winning the World Series and Super Bowls are invited to the White House. Occasionally, a team member doesn't show because of "scheduling conflicts," but it is rare for a celebrity to truly step forward and tell a political leader to mind his own business.

And that's why I have a new favorite celebrity. While reading David Henderson's superb book, The Joy of Freedom, I came across Henderson's story about tennis superstar Venus Williams. When Williams won the U. S. Open in the year 2000 at the age of 20, she took the obligatory congratulation call from then-President Bill Clinton.

What agenda did Venus promote in her conversation with the president? Was it some new hip cause? No, it was something right out of an Ayn Rand novel.

She told the president that she worked hard for the money she had earned and asked the president, "Can you lower my taxes?"

Clinton mumbled one of his typical lies about seeing what he could do to get "new rules for athletes." Did Venus cower at this comment? Was super smooth Bill now able to win Venus over the way he had Barbra Streisand, Monica Lewinsky and oh so many other women? No, the 20-year old Venus stood her ground and perceptively replied, "Are you asking me to read your lips?"

Clinton obviously thought that an in-person meeting was necessary with this strong-willed woman. He invited her to the White House. Did Venus jump at this offer from Mr. Smooth? No, the ever-so-cool Venus replied, "I will see what I can do about it."

Wow! A celebrity who isn't trying to get into my pocket for some fad cause. A celebrity who knows the government is digging into her pocket. A celebrity who at the age of 20 is able to politely blow off an invitation to visit the halls of power.

This is my kind of celebrity.

As I write this, Venus has made it to the fourth round of the French Open. She is seeded second.

Venus, I am rooting for you. I hope you continue to win and to meet lots of kings, queens, presidents and prime ministers. I hope you continue to be unimpressed by their invitations to take part in their displays of power and I hope you will always remind them to stay out of your pocket and mine.