Neal Boortz controversies

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Talk radio host Neal Boortz has been involved in numerous controversies over the years.

1 Critics and rivals
- 1.1 Media Matters
- 1.2 CAIR
2 Controversial statements
- 2.1 Bill O'Reilly
- 2.2 Cynthia McKinney
3 References

[edit] Critics and rivals

[edit] Media Matters

Boortz has often been a subject of Media Matters for America's online reports. Media Matters is a self-described progressive web-based organization that reports and criticizes what it calls "conservative misinformation in the U.S. media." Throughout the years, the group has reported Boortz making remarks that it describes as anti-Muslim,^[1] false,^[2] and misleading.^[3] Boortz has claimed on the air that Media Matters distorts the truth and frequently cuts clips to make them say what Media Matters wants to portray.^{[citation needed]} Media Matters reported that Boortz additionally asserted without evidence that the organization is funded by billionaire activist George Soros,^[4] a claim which Media Matters explicitly denies.^[5] Media Matters also reported Boortz' controversial comments about Georgia politician Cynthia McKinney (see below) Boortz does, however, thank Media Matters on his website for spelling his name correctly and implores them, albeit with tongue-in-cheek, to "Just keep on keepin' on. Just get that "Boortz" name out there..." ^[6]

[edit] CAIR

On July 19, 2007, the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) broadcast an email criticizing Neal Boortz for saying that Islam is a cult. ^[7]

[edit] Controversial statements

[edit] Bill O'Reilly

On May 7, 2003, Boortz appeared on Bill O'Reilly's show The O'Reilly Factor to discuss a controversial "whites-only" (supposed) prom at a Georgia high school. O'Reilly decried the incident as non-inclusive, and Boortz repeatedly insisted that the event in question, while organized and promoted by students within the school, but by neither faculty nor the school's administrators, actually occurred off-campus. Boortz argued that it was a private gathering, and as such was not subject to the equal protection clause. Boortz challenged O'Reilly, saying, "...the black students at the school had their private party, too, which you seem to fail to mention every time..."^[8]

The discussion quickly turned sour when Boortz suggested that O'Reilly was cherry picking this issue as a publicity stunt, designed to assuage the recent hubcaps remarks O'Reilly made at a charity fundraiser. Boortz said that the event in question was not an issue anywhere, including in Georgia, and that it was only an issue on The O'Reilly Factor. Immediately after Boortz brought up the hubcap incident, O'Reilly scolded him: "You know, you're a vicious son of a bitch for bringing that up." Boortz later bought the rights to www.viciousSOB.com and redirected it to O'Reilly's website.^[8]

[edit] Cynthia McKinney

Boortz over the years has expressed his opinions on Georgia politician Cynthia McKinney. He often calls her the "cutest little jihadist in Congress." On March 31, 2006, Boortz said that McKinney, who admitted to assaulting a police officer while a member of the 109th Congress, "looked like a welfare drag queen",^[9] and "a ghetto slut".^[10] In response, House Democratic Caucus Chair James Clyburn issued a statement demanding that Boortz apologize for using "such abhorrent words".^[11] On April 3, 2006 Boortz issued an apology on his radio talk show.^[12]