A MEDAL OF HONOR FOR "SPIT AND RUN"

Jane Fonda was appearing in Kansas City to promote her memoir, My Life So Far.
Michael D. Smith, a 54-year-old Vietnam veteran from Gladstone, sent a stream of tobacco juice at Fonda at a Plaza book signing Tuesday. Dozens expressed dismay. Many more, delight.
Comments ranged from:
"Spitting in Jane Fonda's face is every Vietnam vet's fantasy,""Bravo, Michael Smith. Bravo." "Heartfelt thanks." "Freedom of speech." "Made my day." "What a true American this man is!"
Opposing comments: "A Neanderthal." "No sense of decency." "Pathetic incident."
It appears support for this behavior to outnumber those who condemned his action by about 3-to-1.
This all stems from Fonda's anti-war activities, back in 1972 in North Vietnam, where she was photographed at an anti-aircraft battery and visited American POWs, who she claimed were well-treated.
She has never been forgiven. That anger over a war 30 years ago, which also surfaced in the 2004 presidential election, puzzles some.
Some said Smith should get the Medal of Honor; one suggested naming Smith citizen of the year. Thirty-two offered to cover his bail on the disorderly conduct charge. He was jailed briefly Tuesday night,and says he will plead guilty. Fonda won't press assault charges.
Her 1972 visit to Hanoi still burns many veterans as a grandstanding bid to aid the enemy. A photograph taken at the time showed "Hanoi Jane" posing atop an anti-aircraft gun used by the North Vietnamese — a stunt she now regrets.
"Good for Mr. Smith. Jane Fonda is a traitor –– who aided and abetted the enemy at a time of war," vented a Vietnam pilot. "She should be stood up against a wall and shot."
After the spitting incident, Barnett, said nearly as many veterans called offering to help pay any fine levied against Smith.
It seems all Smith did was give her lots of free advertisement and sell a lot of her books.