Posted on 04/21/2005 9:53:31 AM PDT by pissant
A man who had waited in line at a book-signing in Kansas City for Academy Award-winning actress Jane Fonda spit tobacco juice in her face Tuesday night.
The suspect, Vietnam veteran Michael A. Smith, 54, Smith said that his actions were planned and he has no regrets. He said he's a Vietnam veteran still angry at Fonda for her trip to Hanoi in 1972.
"She's a traitor, and she cost the lives of a lot of good men," Smith, who was 19 when he was sent to fight in Vietnam, told KMBC-TV in Kansas City. "She didn't do anything to the government -- she slapped us in the face."
In 1972, Fonda, who actively opposed the Vietnam War, was photographed sitting in a North Vietnamese anti-aircraft tank. About her involvement in the Vietnam War, Fonda has publicly apologized for the photo. She has called it an incredible lapse in judgment.
During her Tuesday night visit, Fonda talked to the crowd about her trip to North Vietnam.
"We were sending people to die -- believing we were helping South Vietnam," Fonda said. "I made a terrible mistake, and for that I'm very sorry -- I really hurt people."
"I expressed my opinion of her -- to her," Smith said. "I had the opportunity -- a lot of guys won't have it -- and I did it for them."
Event organizers said the incident was dishonorable.
AP Image Jane Fonda speaks at news conference after returning from North Vietnam, Paris, France (July 25, 1972)
"We really need to learn how to talk it out with people who do not share the same opinions we share," said Vivien Jennings, with Rainy Day Books.
"It is a challenge for people to think -- to think beyond their ideas," said Roger Doeren, with Rainy Day Books.
"For a lot of us, the war will never end. And our war with her will never end," Smith said.
Police said they arrested Smith for spitting on Fonda.
Fonda, 67, spoke at Unity Temple in Kansas City’s Plaza shopping district about her new book, "My Life So Far," and her new movie with Jennifer Lopez called "Monster-In-Law."
At about 9 p.m., police said Smith, who had been waiting in line for about 90 minutes, passed a book to Fonda and then spit a large amount of tobacco juice into her face.
"He whirled and spit at the same time," said Jennings.
The man then ran away and was taken into custody by off-duty officers, who were providing security for the event.
Smith was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct, which is a city charge.
Fonda didn't miss a beat. The tobacco juice was wiped off and she continued to sign autographs for the next people in line.
"(Fonda) said, 'Don't worry, I'm fine. He just has issues,' and she just kept on signing books. She didn't even get up out of her chair," Jennings said.
Michael A. Smith
Fonda is not pressing charges against the alleged spitter, but the city does plan to charge him with disorderly conduct. The actress, 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.
About 900 people showed up for her appearance in Kansas City.
Not all Vietnam veterans appear to be holding a grudge against Fonda.
In an interview with the actor/activist a day before the incident, Fonda told local6.com's Tim Lammers that she's gotten dozens of letters from veterans since the book has come out accepting her apology over the photos taken at the anti-aircraft site -- and others are issuing public statements regarding the controversy.
"There were four veterans in Dallas Monday who had issued a statement to the press that says, 'The guys who don't forgive don't speak for most veterans,'" Fonda said in a phone interview from Dallas. "It's a minority (of veterans) who can't get over it."
Fonda added that "the presidents who sent them (the veterans) there have the apologies to make," and that she hopes the veterans who are unwilling to forgive her will at least give her book a chance to get a greater understanding of her actions.
"It's one of the reasons that I wrote it -- so they can see who I am and what was in my heart."
She's lucky this is the worst she's gotten so far.
I guess the publicity stunt people were reading our threads yesterday?
Now the spitter is a Vet.
Lying, commmunist b!tch.
"Lying, commmunist b!tch."
_________________________________________
and that's her good points...
He earned the right. Many, many thousands did.
Agreed. She should have been sent to the firing squad, IMO
Hasn't Jane Fonda asked for forgiveness for her treacherous actions in Nam?
You're right. She deserves to be lynched.
not to my satisfaction.
Nice of her to turn the other cheek.
I don't disagree with that.
I'm watching how the marketing and propaganda is removing the responsibilities of her actions.
Notice, she is now down to just sitting on a tank. And people seem to be buying it.
The Lord God may forgive her, but I never will.
She only apologized for allowing to have herself photographed on the AA Gun... Not for sitting in it.. Not for visiting the enemy during a time of war and providing aid and comfort... not for providing propoganda that was used to torture US POWs...
I saw the video tape of that again this morning - I just looks so odd.........
Barbarella was a lapse in judgement -
The gun visit was a slap in the face at every man and woman that spilled blood and honored their responsibility in the draft, while making coin and press notoriety off of them
Inexcusable treason
Dad must've been so proud
Here's a thought. I will accept Hanoi Janie's apology if she will admit she did it for the attention, donate the proceeds of her book to John O'Neill's guys, and go back to being just another forgetable Hollywood has been.
A symbolic act, perhaps spitting at one's feet, or turning one's back at a speech, is acceptable in my opinion. Assaulting one's face is not.
Somehow asking for forgiveness 30 years after the fact, while at the same time promoting your new book and movie, just doesn't strike me as all that genuine. But that's just me.
Wouldn't that be blood money?
:shivers:
My only complaint is that he ran away rather than stand tall.
She looks kind of like a clown with that makeup
A symbolic act, perhaps spitting at one's feet, or turning one's back at a speech, is acceptable in my opinion. Assaulting one's face is not.
You are right. If assualting with food is wrong so is spitting. I do sypathize with the guy that did it though.
So does anyone have an email for this great vet? I would like to thank him from me!
I would spit in OBL's face.
That is, if I was being restrained and couldn't do anything else.
He caused the death of some of my family. So am I assaulting?
Fonda contributed to the death of Smith's family, fellow MIL.
If I'm punched and I punch back, my actions are not assault.
So does anyone have an email for this great vet? I would like to thank him from me!
He was always a veteran. Not sure what you mean by 'now' unless the earliest reports you read didn't mention it.
She is a great test of the resolve of those she betrayed.
An approach NOT taken by Ms. Fonda in 1972. Posing for propaganda pictures with our enemies and thereby causing American deaths does NOT qualify.
Profiting from a book, based on apologies therein, doesn't win her any favor in my eyes.
Looks like it dripped down to her neck.
I wouldn't do it, but then, I'm not a Vietnam Veteran. Are you?
Hanoi Jane poing.
The earliest reports didn't mention it.
It was MY read from the get-go that the spitter was a still pissed off vet, who had wainted a l-o-n-g to show her what he thought of her.
Serves her right, smug, arrogant, denial-ridden traitor that she was. She would do it again because she IS that way. She probably thought the whole thing was cute.
STILL frosts my butt.
Who does Fonda think she is commenting on anything regarding foreign matters? Unless it's foreign husbands! She's a pampered rich ex actress that has mush for a brain and thinks because of who she is we all want to listen to her dribble!
If I ever meet this guy the beer is on me.
I'm with ya.
Hey Jane here is the truth, A most noteworthy and still sensitive example of this double standard is the Vietnam War. The international community was outraged at the American attempt to militarily prevent North Vietnam from taking over South Vietnam and ultimately Laos and Cambodia. "Stop the killing" was the cry, and eventually, the pressure of foreign and domestic opposition forced an American withdrawal. The overall number killed in the Vietnam War on all sides was about 1,216,000 people.
With the United States subsequently refusing them even modest military aid, South Vietnam was militarily defeated by the North and completely swallowed; and Cambodia was taken over by the communist Khmer Rouge, who in trying to recreate a primitive communist agricultural society slaughtered from one to three million Cambodians. If we take a middle two-million as the best estimate, then in four years the government of this small nation of seven million alone killed 64 percent more people than died in the ten-year Vietnam War.
Overall, the best estimate of those killed after the Vietnam War by the victorious communists in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia is 2,270,000. Now totaling almost twice as many as died in the Vietnam War, this communist killing still continues.
http://www.hawaii.edu/powerkills/WSJ.ART.HTM
I don't approve of spittin on anyone. Like I said, I woulds backhanded the tramp.
"I expressed my opinion of her -- to her," Smith said. "I had the opportunity -- a lot of guys won't have it -- and I did it for them."
I'm guessing that 95%+ feel that bro Smith spoke for us....
good post!
If she is really sorry, it seems to me that she should retire from public life and do charity work or something and stop drawing attention to herself. It seems that is is still all about her.
You twisted my point.
She contributed to the deaths of HIS family.
OBL contributed to the deaths of MY family.
I'm saying ANYONE that contributes to the death of your family member, spitting as a response shouldn't be considered assault.
" Fonda said in a phone interview from Dallas. "It's a minority (of veterans) who can't get over it."
No, the minority of Vets. did not get over it. Just ask John Kerry. In any other period of our history her group would have been justly hanged.
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