Neal Boortz

Neal Boortz, based in Atlanta, Georgia, is the radio host of the nationally syndicated Neil Boortz Show. Boortz describes his politics as "a confirmed Libertarian." Boortz has been a talk show host since 1969. In a biographical note he states that "since 1993 I have been holding forth on News Talk 750 WSB."

Boortz's radio show is syndicated by Cox Radio Syndication in partnership with Jones Radio Networks.

From 2002 to 2004, Boortz wrote a regular column for the conservative website WorldNetDaily. Articles by him have continued to be published at Townhall.com.

Controversial remarks

 * Boortz suggested that a victim of Hurricane Katrina, who had been featured in a newspaper article as she was being housed in an Atlanta hotel, consider prostitution: "If that's the only way she can take care of herself, it sure beats the hell out of sucking off the taxpayers."
 * In an interview about the book on Fox News’ Hannity & Colmes said: "Look, Al Qaeda, they could bring in a nuke into this country and kill 100,000 people with a well-placed nuke somewhere. Ok. We would recover from that. It would be a terrible tragedy, but the teachers unions in this country can destroy a generation."
 * In 2006, Boortz "referred to a black congresswoman, Cynthia McKinney: 'She looks like a ghetto slut. It looks like an explosion in a Brillo pad factory.' Hairdo and derogatory sexual references are hardly distinguishable from the remarks that got Imus fired" in April 2007 for "a racist remark about the hairdos of a women's basketball team, and his reference to the athletes as 'hos'."
 * On his radio show, Boortz offered a suggestion he said he got from a listener's email: "When we defeat this illegal alien amnesty bill, and when we yank out the welcome mat, and they all start going back to Mexico, as a going away gift let's all give them a box of nuclear waste." Boortz continued: "Give 'em all a little nuclear waste and let 'em take it on down there to Mexico. Tell 'em it can -- it'll heat tortillas."

Boortz v. Al Franken
In an appearance on CNN Daybreak to discuss the new liberal talk radio network, Air America Radio, Boortz claimed that the network's star, Al Franken, refused to host his show because he wouldn't get control of the phone lines.

After the network launched, Boortz appeared on Franken's show and Franken asked him about the comment. Boortz said "if you're reading from a transcript, that's wrong." When Franken pointed out "in context it doesn't make sense as anything else," Boortz responded "Hey, Al, don't get fixated on that, it's an error in the transcript or something. I've never asked you to host the show."

Franken later dug up the actual clip from the show, so he invited Boortz back and played that, along with Boortz's previous comments. The clip showed the transcript was accurate, so Boortz responded "Why are you so fixated on this, Al?" Al explained that he takes it seriously when someone lies, especially when they lie about him, and then lie again to cover it up. "Al, get over it," Boortz retorted.

Franken also played another clip from the CNN show. The host repeated a comment by Janeane Garofalo noting that "The American people have been conned into thinking liberal is a dirty word. Because of liberal reforms, we enjoy things like desegregation ..." Boortz responded "Let's see. Desegregation. You know, I thought the Civil Rights Act was passed over the objections of the Democrats in the Congress of the United States. You see? Janeane, pull that line on the air. Go ahead." Franken quoted Newt Gingrich saying "It was the liberal wing of the Democratic party that ended segregation," and he falsely pointed out that the Democrats who voted against it were all conservative Dixiecrats who became Republicans.

In response, Boortz sputtered "Be prepared to talk about some issues, not play a stupid, childish, moronic Al Franken game of 'Gotcha!' ... I am tired of playing the little nursery school thing with you, Al," and hung up. WMA audio clip of the above story

Later, even though he had specifically said, "I never asked you to host the show", Boortz responded on his website saying "You know what? Frankly, I can't really remember.  After 35 years of talk radio how in the hell can you remember who you did and who you didn't ask to guest host." He went on to attack Franken: "Al Franken approaches his show with a nasty demeanor and mean temperament. ... He's a comedian who has lost his sense of humor. He walks around with clenched fists, which makes it impossible to shake his hand."

Books

 * The Commencement Speech You Need to Hear, Longstreet Press, October 1997. ISBN 1563524341 ISBN 978-1563524349
 * The Terrible Truth About Liberals, Longstreet Press, October 1998. ISBN 1563524872
 * The Fair Tax Book: Saying Goodbye to the Income Tax and the IRS (with John Linder), Regan Books, Reprint edition May 2006. ISBN 0060875496 ISBN 978-0060875497
 * Somebody's Gotta Say It, William Morrow, February 2007. ISBN 0060878207 ISBN 978-0060878207

Contact Information
Website: http://www.boortz.com

Profiles

 * Boortz Bio, Boortz.com.
 * Neal Boortz, Premiere Speakers Bureau.
 * Neal Boortz in the Wikipedia.

Articles By Neal Boortz

 * Articles Archive, NewsMax.
 * Article Archive, Townhall.com.
 * Articles Archive, WorldNetDaily.

Interviews With Boortz

 * Ellen, "The FOX News War on America: Teachers Unions more dangerous than Al Qaeda", News Hounds, February 20, 2007. (Transcript and video link).

Articles & Commentary

 * Boortz lying about Al Franken, The Franken Factor, (WMA audio clip).
 * Neal Boortz Archive, Media Matters for America.
 * "We Found This Spoon, Sir," The Poor Man, May 20, 2004. Boortz claims harmless Sarin could kill 60,000.
 * "Boortz: Faced with an impending national disaster, 'we should save the rich people first'"Media Matters for America, October 14, 2005.
 * Lee Russ, Op-Ed: "Neal Boortz, certified dunce," Watching the Watchers, August 5, 2006.
 * Transcript: Larry King Live, CNN, August 9, 2006. Scroll down for segment with Randi Rhodes and Neal Boortz. YouTube clip posted on Hoffmania, August 10, 2006.
 * "Predicting Media Matters would flag his Cindy Sheehan attacks, Boortz also declared Islam a religion of 'violent, bloodthirsty cretins' and called Prophet Muhammad a 'phony rag-picker'," Media Matters for America, July 20, 2006.
 * Noel Sheppard, "Wednesday Night Fights: Neal Boortz Takes on Randi Rhodes," NewsBusters, August 10, 2006. Includes transcript.
 * Boortz on the attack with a plastic spoon - point-by-point rebuttal of Neal Boortz's climate denialism, eco101.newie.oz blog, February 2007.
 * Ellen, "The FOX News War on America: Teachers Unions more dangerous than Al Qaeda", News Hounds, February 20, 2007.
 * John F. Sugg, "Racism at Cynthia Tucker's Home Port. Hate and Hypocrisy in the Cox Empire," CounterPunch, April 16, 2007.