Posted on 04/20/2005 4:55:39 PM PDT by presidio9
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.
Lockhart said Smith was released on bond late Tuesday night and is due to appear in municipal court on May 27.
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."
Fonda drew a crowd of about 900 for her appearance, said Vivian Jennings, whose Rainy Day Books of suburban Fairway, Kan., sponsored the event at Unity Temple in Kansas City. Fonda, 67, spoke for about 15 minutes, answered questions for another 15, then began signing copies of her book.
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."
Jennings said that the man had a book to which the name "Jody" had been affixed as he approached to have it autographed. She said that when Fonda got the book, she looked up and said, "You're not Jody."
"At that moment, he turned his head quickly and spit a trail of tobacco juice," Jennings said. "He immediately jumped off the stage and started running down the aisle."
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.
Although Jane Fonda is probably not even worth that Vet's spittle!
At first I was pretty grossed out BUT well.. she got a taste of what the veterans got coming back home.
Mike Smith--an American Patriot.
This is one thread title I don't mind seeing reposted.
I think I'll eat a bag of oreo cookies before her next signing.
Good for the man! I can hear the ghosts of fallen Viet Nam vets cheering and hoo-rah-ing in the distance!!! The bitc* deservers alot more than that.
Hollywood pinko-pig.
Nobody deserves such expectorating behavior. He gives all of us a bad name and wait till the NY Slimes posts their coverage about this...Holy Chaw Batman
What a sticky situation for traitor Jane.
My thoughts exactly. Conservatives scream and shout when someone dares do that to a fellow conservative; but cheer when somone does this to a liberal.
Liberals and hypocrispy go together a whole lot better than conservatives and double standards.
Actually, I did a search, but thank you so much for being an anal-retentive newbie. It is heroes like yourself that keep me coming back again and again.
Its too bad that he was an inexperienced tabacco chewer. An expereinced chewer and spitter could have really done a hair, face and front of blouse combo.
np to you, n00b
A lot of people died at the hands of the communist in South East Asia AFTER we left. Maybe if it hadn't been for her and the people who supported her, we could have saved those people.
I am afraid you have fallen for us being the bad guys crap, hook, line, and sinker. You have no idea what you are talking about.
LOL... Now that would be really gross.
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