Man spits in Fonda's face

Associated Press | Associated Press

[RVN Airplane Driver]

(AP) In a photo released by the Kansas City, Mo. Police, Michael A. Smith, is shown. Smith, 54, of... Full Image

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) - A man spit tobacco juice into the face of Jane Fonda after waiting in line to have her sign her new memoir. Capt. Rich Lockhart of the Kansas City Police Department said Michael A. Smith, 54, was arrested Tuesday night on a municipal charge of disorderly conduct.

He was released on bond and is due to appear in court on May 27.

Fonda covers a wide range of topics in "My Life So Far," 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 the photo, but not for opposing the war.

Smith, a Vietnam veteran, told The Kansas City Star Wednesday that Fonda was a "traitor" and that her protests against the Vietnam War were unforgivable. He said he doesn't 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. "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, who flew to Minneapolis Wednesday for another appearance on her book tour, issued a statement through Jynne Martin of Random House.

"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," she said.

Fonda drew a crowd of about 900 at Unity Temple, said Vivian Jennings, whose Rainy Day Books of suburban Fairway, Kan., sponsored the event.

Jennings said the 67-year-old 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. "She was wonderful."

[RVN Airplane Driver]

This guy has done what a lot of us have wanted to do for years. He is my Hero

[clee1]

He should demand a jury trial.

Odds are at least one member of the jury would agree with his action. If we were lucky, they'd have to try him 4-5 times before a verdict could be rendered, keeping Hanoi Jane's name in the mud for all to see.

[NotSoFreeStater]

I can understand why the guy did it, but I still don't think it was right.

[LIConFem]

While I find it difficult to summon up any sympathy for Ms. Fonda, spitting in her face was just plain wrong.

"The best way of avenging thyself is not become like the wrong-doer" -- Marcus Aurelius Antoninus

[NotSoFreeStater]

Absolutely. The same way that it's wrong to throw a pie at Ann Coulter or salad dressing at Pat Buchanan.

[YOUGOTIT]

The courts and the police allowed the left-wing Nazi democrats to spit on the troops returning from Vietnam as one police supporter of the protesters said it you do anything to the protesters we will take you to jail. If it was legal for the protesters in the 1970's top spit on the returning troops "federal officers" why is it not legal to spit on a left-wing fascist TRAITOR DEMOCRAT?

[DustyMoment]

It would be great to see a crowd of Vietnam Veterans showing up to support him that was so large, it would spill out of the courtroom and into the street.

The MSM wants us to believe that Fonda has "apologized" for her actions during the Vietnam War. She hasn't. The only thing she has said is that she regrets allowing the photo to be taken of her sitting on the VC anti-aircraft gun. That's what we are supposed to believe is her big "apology".

Fonda can go pound sand. I hope that so many veterans line up to pay this guy's fine, that they just throw the whole thing out. Arresting him is as repugnant as arresting those who participated in the Boston Tea Party.

Fonda is the criminal, here and should STILL be in prison for treason!!

[YOUGOTIT]

It is never wrong to spit in the face of a left-wing fascist Nazi anti-American TRAITOR.

[LIConFem]

"Absolutely. The same way that it's wrong to throw a pie at Ann Coulter or salad dressing at Pat Buchanan."

Yes!! I agree whole-heartedly!

That type of behavior does more to demean and diminish the perpetrator than the victim. It's self-defeating.

But I suppose that's a philosophical argument, and therefore, subjective.

[4everontheRight]

Part of me thinks this was wrong and part of me wishes it had been acid, not tobacco

[LIConFem]

Certainly can't argue with the "left-wing fascist Nazi anti-American TRAITOR" part. But at some point a person has to elevate themselves above their enemies, especially if those enemies are particularly vile (like Jane Fonda). What's the point of being right if your behavior is indistinguishable from the people you despise?

[1john2 3and4]

So maybe if he says he regrets any photos were taken of the spitting incident, she & the leftists will forgive? /s

What's the point of being right if your behavior is indistinguishable from the people you despise?...and there you have it! Sums it up for me.

[small_l_libertarian]

I'm torn about this. I think it is wrong to throw food or spit on someone, so I don't like the behavior.

However, the "elites" in this country just completely ignore the rest of us and pretend that we either don't exist, don't matter, or are just too stupid to understand, until we do something that embarrasses them and makes them uncomfortable. (That includes our side, too. For example, President Bush didn't want to talk about the downside of illegal immigration until the Minuteman Project embarrassed him. Now, at least he has to discuss it.)

So, anyway, Jane Fonda's been going around "apologizing" and getting fawned over in the media. Nobody believes or accepts her apology, except for her media/Hollywood/left wing friends. This guy did something to embarrass her and got his point across.

I guess that I have reached the point that, as long as you are not hurting someone, and as long as you are willing to accept the consequences of your actions (jail, fine, etc.), then knock yourself out. You want to spit on Jane Fonda, go ahead. You want to throw a pie at Ann Coulter, have at it (hopefully, she'll eat some of it).

If the elites won't pay attention to us when we're being polite, maybe it's time to get rude.

[DustyMoment]

What's the point of being right if your behavior is indistinguishable from the people you despise?...and there you have it! Sums it up for me.

There's a huge difference here. A lot of people on this thread mention throwing pies and salad dressing. Those things didn't cost lives, embolden our enemies or extend the suffering of men being held in a Vietnamese POW prison and subjected to routine torture.

Fonda, the traitor, had the audacity to turn in POWs assembled for a dog and pony show in her "honor" who passed notes to her to take back to the states. Instead, she handed them over to the VC captors.

Until you have walked a mile in these veterans' moccasins, you have no idea what they went through. Having tobacco juice spit on her is the least thing she should experience.

[1john2 3and4]

I understand. It's not called "The High Road" for nothing, though....

[YOUGOTIT]

That is the reason we are being shoved, beaten, and rubbed out by the left-wing fascist. We CAVE. The devil will take every advantage if you show any weakness. As Jane the Traitor helped torture American prisoners in Vietnam and along with the other left-wing fascist Nazi democrats were responsible for the deaths of American and South Vietnamese military and civilians she and they should be in jail but like Sandy Burgler they got a pass by the left-wing fascist democrats.

[DJ Taylor]

"I can understand why the guy did it, but I still don't think it was right."

I still don’t think spitting on a woman is appropriate conduct for a man, no matter how despicable the woman may be, and to do such a thing makes us no better than a common Democrat. I can just hear the Liberals now, “Yes, Yes, Yes, John Kerry told us what kind of Genghis Khan emulating animals those Vietnam Veterans are, now look at what they have done to our poor Jane!”

Somehow, over the years, every time I heard a "Dumb Blond Joke" the face of the woman that appeared in my mind was that of Jane Fonda. We waste our hate on such a dim wit, and the last thing we want to do is make a martyr of her.

[Route101]

Why waste the chew??.....

[Sloth]

What's the point of being right if your behavior is indistinguishable from the people you despise?

So you think Fonda's actions were as harmless as merely spitting on someone?

[proud American in Canada]

I understand what you mean.

Ann Coulter had a pie thrown at her because the liberals don't like what she has to say.

But Jane Fonda committed treason and has never had to pay any kind of legal price for that.

The pent-up rage is totally understandable.

[NRA1995]

Looking at recent photos of her, she probably had on so much makeup she never felt it happen....

[sandydipper]

Thank You!! - Mr. Smith. I only wish that you could have dumped on her table.

[maggief]

http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/local/11446349.htm


Michael Dean Smith of Gladstone is unapologetic for spitting tobacco juice on Jane Fonda on Tuesday. “It was absolutely worth it,” he said. “There are a lot of veterans who would love to do what I did.”


Michael P. Shanahan, who worked security for Rainy Day Books, helped Jane Fonda clean up after the incident Tuesday.

[LIConFem]

"So you think Fonda's actions were as harmless as merely spitting on someone?"

Nope. What Jane Fonda did was reprehensible, to say the least. My point is that her bad behavior shouldn't push us to lower our own standards of behavior. It isn't not about Jane Fonda or the man who spat upon her. As I said in a previous post, it's a subjective philosophical argument.

[Delphinium]

"The important thing is that she was so calm and so gracious about it," Jennings said. "She was wonderful."

That infuriates me more.

[Budge]

I know a lot of non-vets who would love to do the same thing.

I guess it's fine and dandy to spit on Boy Scouts carrying the U.S. flag though.

[LIConFem]

Maintaining one's own code of conduct isn't caving, nor is it a sign of weakness. If anything, allowing one's self to be brought low by someone else's bad behavior is most definitely a show of weakness.

As for the rest of your post, I can't argue because I agree.

[bilhosty]

I think spitting on her was wrong and in bad taste and reflects poorly on the people who do it.

That said I sincerely hope that this happens again and again and again. Serves her right.

[Budge]

I understand your point, LICF, but the Republiccan Congress, Senators mostly, have been playing "nicy-nice" and are getting walked on by the left.

I know, apples and oranges.

[sinkspur]

This guy has done what a lot of us have wanted to do for years. He is my Hero

He's a nut, more to be pitied than condemned.

[joesnuffy]

I was one of the guys spit on back in late Aug '69

I agree with you...

It will do nothing to change many so called American's opinions of Viet Nam Veterans (at this point who cares about them anyway)

Jane Fonda Communist Traitor etc. etc. just got a little more sympathy from her peers and those who never will understand those days..and those who cannot or won't relate....

It's better to take the 'Highground' whenever it is within your power to do so..the 'lowground' simply isn't worth holding on to.

Jane Fonda is a despicable character..let age do it's number on her...that is enough revenge

imo

[LIConFem]

"I know, apples and oranges."

No, it is most certainly frustrating; I do understand. But I believe that we're responsible for our own deeds first, and maintaining some sort of decorum in the face of such outrageous and despicable behavior is a bigger victory than simply reacting and acting upon what we feel.

[excalibur1701]

>> Michael P. Shanahan, who worked security for Rainy Day
>> Books, helped Jane Fonda clean up after the incident
>> Tuesday.

This is another example of how the Hollyweird elites are so out of touch with reality. She has to have someone help her clean up. God forbid she can grab her own tissue and wipe the mess off herself.

[DustyMoment]

It's not called "The High Road" for nothing, though....

I agree. But, even Jesus understood that, sometimes, you have to b!tchslap evildoers to get their attention.

[Noumenon]

What you said. I don't buy the 'moral equivalency' argument with respect to the vets spitting in her face. There's blood on Fonda's hands. I won't trouble myself over a little well-deserved tobacco juice on her face.

What she really deserves, I am not allowed to say here, but it starts with a rope and ends with a tree.

[Rastus]

Fonda, the traitor, had the audacity to turn in POWs assembled for a dog and pony show in her "honor" who passed notes to her to take back to the states. Instead, she handed them over to the VC captors.

There are plenty of reasons to hate Jane Fonda, but this is a fabricated story.

The most serious accusations in the piece quoted above — that Fonda turned over slips of paper furtively given her by American POWS to the North Vietnamese and that several POWs were beaten to death as a result — are proveably untrue. Those named in the inflammatory e-mail categorically deny the events they supposedly were part of.

"It's a figment of somebody's imagination," says Ret. Col. Larry Carrigan, one of the servicemen mentioned in the 'slips of paper' incident. Carrigan was shot down over North Vietnam in 1967 and did spend time in a POW camp. He has no idea why the story was attributed to him, saying, "I never met Jane Fonda."

The tale about a defiant serviceman who spit at Jane Fonda and is severely beaten as a result is often attributed to Air Force pilot Jerry Driscoll. He has repeatedly stated on the record that it did not originate with him.

http://www.snopes.com/military/fonda.asp

[Caipirabob]

Fonda should have been shot on sight as soonas she attempted to return to the US.

If I ever see ANYONE mistreating a US soldier or disrespecting them in public I will "teach them respect" myself.