I tell you what happened was I think I was eating dinner -- or lunch, rather, at an outdoor cafe. And I think this guy who -- I don't know if he believes in what he's doing or thinks he's helping, but I think, my belief was what he was saying was blatantly anti-American.
If you make the sitting president a murderer, you make my little brother-in-law who I've known since he was 6 a murderer, because he's on the ground in Iraq for his second tour and he's been shot.
Then, Bonaduce went after other Hollywoodans:
And I think he thought he was going to get another celebrity like Tim Robbins or Sean Penn, who are going to stand up and dis their own country that made them rich beyond belief, and he picked the wrong guy. I'm a patriot, born and raised. I could not be more proud to be an American. And I would have none of it.
I got -- you know, at one point I told him, I said, "As far as I'm concerned you now stepped over the line into treason, the punishment for which is death. And I'm really busy, so I may have to kill you right here." I didn't mean it, but I just wanted to shock him a little bit.
Fun stuff. What follows is a full transcript of this segment.
KASICH: In the "personal story" segment tonight, Danny Bonaduce of "The Partridge Family" and reality TV fame is smack in the middle of a very serious situation.
The actor said he and his family have been receiving death threats after this confrontation on the streets of Hollywood was posted on Youtube. The 9/11 conspiracy guy approaches him, wants Danny's reaction to his theory that the Bush administration purposely killed 3,000 people. Well, Mr. Bonaduce didn't like that very much.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DANNY BONADUCE: Who the (bleep) are you to come up to me on the street and criticize my government? I voted for President Bush. I believe in what we're doing in the Middle East. I don't (bleep) know you. I don't want to know you. I don't give a (bleep) about your opinions. We're losing the hearts and minds around the world. And you want to help make us the enemy. (Bleep) off.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: President Bush is a lying criminal, member of skull and bones and the bohemian grove, where they do mock human sacrifices every year.
BONADUCE: He's also the president of the United States of America, you disrespectful little (bleep).
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KASICH: Joining us now from Chicago is Danny Bonaduce.
Well, Danny, I'm not sure I'm going to have lunch with you soon. Danny, what -- how did this happen? Who was this guy that just comes...
BONADUCE: First of all, I'd like to make it perfectly clear that I have other words at my disposal besides those few that I use quite so often in that little tape.
I tell you what happened was I think I was eating dinner -- or lunch, rather, at an outdoor cafe. And I think this guy who -- I don't know if he believes in what he's doing or thinks he's helping, but I think, my belief was what he was saying was blatantly anti-American.
If you make the sitting president a murderer, you make my little brother-in-law who I've known since he was 6 a murderer, because he's on the ground in Iraq for his second tour and he's been shot.
And I think he thought he was going to get another celebrity like Tim Robbins or Sean Penn, who are going to stand up and dis their own country that made them rich beyond belief, and he picked the wrong guy. I'm a patriot, born and raised. I could not be more proud to be an American. And I would have none of it.
KASICH: You know, Danny, we look at that tape. Here you are sitting, having dinner, right? Does this happen to you all the time, people just come stick a microphone in your face? I mean, they don't know that you have rights, do they? It's just unbelievable that he would do that.
BONADUCE: It's not all the time. And I'll tell you, that wouldn't even bother me. I was in an outdoor cafe on Hollywood Boulevard. I'm a recognizable celebrity.
I enjoy -- I didn't work so hard to be famous to then hide. You'll never catch me wearing a hat and sunglasses. You know, I like it. I think it's a lot of fun to be famous. I think it's neat.
That guy came up and what happened was he thought he was going to get some other spineless coward to dis his own president.
KASICH: No, you're going to get some left-winger. I got you.
Now, Danny, here's the thing that's amazing. In this latest poll, one third of the public buys in to this conspiracy theory that somehow the U.S. either participated or the government either participated or they let it happen. I'm astounded to read those kind of numbers. How do you explain that?
BONADUCE: When I first heard those numbers because I'm not a political figure at all. I'm here in Chicago doing comedy gigs at a club called Zany's. There's not one political joke in my whole act.
If you listen to my radio show, no politics at all, because I'm not really informed.
KASICH: Right.
BONADUCE: I was thrust into this spotlight. And when I first heard that a full third of Americans believe that our own government had something to do with the killing of innocent men, women and children, it was astounding to me. And in a way hurtful.
I mean, you live in the only remaining superpower and a true democracy. You don't get to say you believe the government is bad. In almost any of the countries we're having a problem with, they'll put you to death for it.
KASICH: I can promise you, you resonate with a lot of people.
Danny, let's finish this up, though. People that have threatened your family. Tell us about this.
BONADUCE: Well, I'll tell you what happened. That little clip -- and that's not even all the clip. I've got to tell you the things I said to that man are gentle compared to what is not shown on that tape.
I got -- you know, at one point I told him, I said, "As far as I'm concerned you now stepped over the line into treason, the punishment for which is death. And I'm really busy, so I may have to kill you right here." I didn't mean it, but I just wanted to shock him a little bit.
KASICH: They've come to your family. We've just got a few seconds remaining.
BONADUCE: They came to my family. They came to my family. Then the FBI contacted me and wanted their server names. And I wrote them all back and said, "Don't you understand, I'm a real American. I'm fighting for your right to be able to say what you want to say."
KASICH: All right. Danny, we've got to leave it there.
BONADUCE: And they did.
KASICH: We've got to leave it there. Thanks for speaking up. Thank you.
BONADUCE: Enjoy it (ph).
Noel Sheppard reporting somewhat live from sunny Florida.
