Britney Spears’ momis her daughter’s defender

Britney Spears’ mother is rushing to her daughter’s defense after the pop star was blasted for not attending her own charity event.

Spears has been spotted cavorting out and about with her fiancé — back-up dancer and father of two illegitimate children Kevin Federline — but has been largely AWOL from many fan events. Most recently, some fans were outraged when she didn’t attend her own charity, “Camp for the Performing Arts” for underprivileged 11-to-15-year olds.

Britney’s mom took to the star’s Web site to defend her little girl and blamed Brit’s injured knee. “Britney was devastated that she wasn’t able to make it to the Camp this year,” Lynne Spears wrote in her “Lynne’s Corner” feature. “She found out from her doctor on a follow-up visit that her knee had become too swollen for her to fly anywhere.” A two-way satellite feed was set up so that Spears could watch the campers and they could see her — but that only lasted 15 minutes. Lynne blames technical problems, and assured fans that that Britney has asked for a tape so she can watch it.

Spears also didn’t attend the dedication of the Britney Spears Foundation Room at the Onyx Hotel in Boston earlier this summer, but her mother had lunch with the two lucky 14-year-old contest winners. But, gripes one fan, “Britney used to really be there for us all the time, but now her mom comes instead.”

Booking it

Speaking of protective parents, George H. W. Bush, the 41^st president, made a call to Kitty Kelley’s publisher to try to stop a book that looks like it might be causing his son, the 43rd president, some embarrassment, says a source.

“Bush senior called Steve Rubin [the head of Kelley’s publisher, Doubleday] and told him not to bring out ‘The Family,’ ” according to a source, who says the call was placed on Nov. 11, 2002. “He told Rubin in no uncertain terms that the family did not want this book written and that the family would not cooperate.” A spokesman for the former president denied to The Scoop that such a call was ever made; a spokeswoman for Doubleday declined to comment.

Another source tells The Scoop that the president’s sister, Doro Bush, was also rooting against her family’s biographer. “There was an auction for a dinner with two authors, Kitty Kelley and Ron Suskind [the Pulitzer-prize winning author of “The Price of Loyalty”],” says a source, who says that the proceeds went to benefit Ivymount School, which teaches children with learning disabilities. “Doro Bush was there representing the First Lady, who was on the board. But when the bidding got up to around $3,000, Doro started booing loudly and made a thumbs-down gesture.  . . .It was inappropriate, to say the least. That money was going to charity.” Doro Bush couldn’t be reached for comment.

Notes from all over

Will Harrison Ford fans get to see him in 3-D? The actor has been linked to the next film by “Titanic” director James Cameron, who has been hush-hush about the project. According to rumors, it’s a science-fiction extravaganza. Now comes a bizarre report from the usually-reliable London Times, which claims that Ford says he’s dieting because the film will be shot in 3-D and he was warned by a techie, “If the normal camera adds 10 pounds, think how a 3-D camera can blob you up.”  . . . Wynonna Judd has been booked to perform on a cruise ship for lesbian couples. “We’re thrilled to have Wynonna on board,” says Amy Errett, CEO of Olivia Cruises. “She’s much-loved and requested by our guests. And an acoustic performance? It’s going to be incredible.”  . . . “If I stood next to Tom Cruise, my ruler suit would reveal him to be a feeble and delicate 5' 6" tall,” notes Victor Lewis-Smith in the London Evening Standard, “but as the celebrity Scientologist is exceedingly litigious and wealthy, I shall describe him here as a red-blooded, heterosexual giant of a man.”

Jeannette Walls Delivers the Scoop Mondays through Thursdays on MSNBC.com

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