KANSAS CITY, Mo. - A man spit tobacco juice into the face of actress Jane Fonda after waiting in line to have her sign her new book, police said.
The man ran off but was quickly caught by police Tuesday night and charged with disorderly conduct.
Fonda has been on tour and doing interviews to promote her just-published memoir, "My Life So Far." The thrice-married, two-time Academy Award winner covers a wide array of topics, including her 1972 visit to Hanoi to protest the Vietnam War, during which she was photographed on a North Vietnamese anti-aircraft gun. She has apologized for that photo, but not for opposing the war.
Capt. Rich Lockhart of the Kansas City Police Department said that although Fonda did not want to press charges against Michael A. Smith, 54, of Kansas City, he was arrested on a municipal charge of disorderly conduct after off-duty officers caught him just outside Unity Temple, where Fonda was signing books.
. . . . .
Smith, a Vietnam veteran, told The Kansas City Star on Wednesday that Fonda was a "traitor" and that her protests against the war were unforgivable. He said he normally does not chew tobacco but did so Tuesday solely to spit juice on the actress.
"I consider it a debt of honor," he told The Star for a story on its Web site, www.kansascity.com. "She spit in our faces for 37 years. It was absolutely worth it. There are a lot of veterans who would love to do what I did."
. . . . . .
[Event sponsor Vivian] Jennings said Fonda received a standing ovation when she came out and when she finished speaking. Alan Tilson, one of those who had his book signed but left before the incident, said the crowd was very "warm and supportive" to Fonda and he was surprised to learn what had happened.
Jennings said the actress never got up from her seat and continued autographing books after the tobacco juice was wiped off.
"The important thing is that she was so calm and so gracious about it," Jennings said of Fonda. "She was wonderful."
. . . . . .
Fonda, who flew to Minneapolis Wednesday for another appearance on the book tour she began April 5, issued a statement through Jynne Martin of Random House, which published her book.
"In spite of the incident, my experience in Kansas City was wonderful and I thank all the warm and supportive people, including so many veterans, who came to welcome me last night," Fonda said.
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Let's try something different, let's *think* for a change. BANNER SEVENTEEN, BABY!
Were there some "conservative" members of FT complaining that there wasn't enough of this stuff directed against liberals? Well, here you go - here's the balance you were looking for
I think Ms. Fonda showed real class by continuing to autograph her books. I was too young to feel upset about her trip to North Vietnam, but she is quite a mature woman now with lots of experiences to share, and I have been impressed by her intereviews and what she has to say.
I feel that I am showing a little bit of double standard by condoning the Rabbi's coffee throwing on the swatsika-wearing guy. However, the swatsika is a symbol of the Nazis who were responsible for heineous war crimes and genocides. The young man who was wearing a swatsika was an ignorant American who did not know history, and I quite admire the Jewish people's tenacity and perseverance in tracking down Nazi criminals and they also never shy away from telling us to "Never forget!".
In Jane Fonda's case, the man who spit on her obviously did not know enough of the Vietnam war history, eithier. Jane Fonda is not responsible for the U.S. losing the war; the U.S. government is reponsible for going to the lousy war and losing it. McNamara admitted in his book that the government and military leadership hid the truth from the American people. I think the tobacco guy is blaming the wrong person for the wrong war. If he wants to spit anyone, look for Kissinger, McNamara, etc. But, apparently, he only has the guts to spit on a 60-plus-year old woman.
Last edited by ChaseTheMiles; Apr 20, 05 at 4:02 pm..
Idiots who spit on others, throw pies at other people, or do anything else equally as sophomoric just to show their dislike really don't deserve the time of day.
__________________ Analise It is high. It is far. It is GONE !!!!!
"We play today; we win today. Das it."
For those of you too young to remember, I very much doubt that this man spat on Fonda because she opposed the war. Many people of that period shared her opposition.
She went beyond that, however, and actively gave aid and comfort to the enemy by going to Hanoi and making radio broadcasts from there urging American soldiers not to fight.
This is what earned her the nickname "Hanoi Jane" (after the famed Tokyo Rose). Had the war been a declared one she would have been tried on charges of treason.
A number of years after I returned from Vietnam, I was a UPI reporter and covered the release of POWs. One of them, from New Jersey, told of how a fellow soldier was tortured because of her.
She went to the Hanoi Hilton (as the POWs called their prison) and toured with NVA escorts. When she tried to speak to one soldier, he refused.
Hanoi Jane turned to the guards and said, "He's not very cooperative, is he?"
The prisoner was taken out of his cell that night and tortured as punishment.
Was the returned POW telling me the truth about this incident? I can only say that I reported what he told me, it went on the UPI wires and was picked up by a number of newspapers throughout the country, and Fonda never denied it -- much less attempted to bring a libel suit.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ChaseTheMiles
I!".
In Jane Fonda's case, the man who spit on her obviously did not know enough of the Vietnam war history, eithier. Jane Fonda is not responsible for the U.S. losing the war; the U.S. government is reponsible for going to the lousy war and losing it. McNamara admitted in his book that the government and military leadership hid the truth from the American people. I think the tobacco guy is blaming the wrong person for the wrong war. If he wants to spit anyone, look for Kissinger, McNamara, etc. But, apparently, he only has the guts to spit on a 60-plus-year old woman.
And Johnson too.
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Those who sacrifice liberty of some to purchase a little temporary safety, will have neither liberty nor safety.
Was the returned POW telling me the truth about this incident? I can only say that I reported what he told me, it went on the UPI wires and was picked up by a number of newspapers throughout the country, and Fonda never denied it -- much less attempted to bring a libel suit.
Surely you don't claim that Fonda's failure to file a suit constitutes proof of the POW's assertion, do you?
As much disdain as I have for Jane Fonda and her self serving antics (first the Viet Nam action, and now apologizing for it to sell more books) I hope this clown is absolutely prosecuted to the maximum extent of the law. This is inexcusable behavior.
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99% of Democrats give the rest of them a bad name.
It is high. It is far. It is GONE !!!!! 
