Neil Boortz: Republican Shill

Another fine piece by John Sugg. This one regarding our favorite Limbaugh wannabe, Neil Boortz (just drop the "tz" for an accurate description of him). Chickenhawks of the world...

by John Sugg

I noticed that Boortz has taken up an issue at the University of Washington. A student senator, Jill Edwards, had opposed a memorial for a Marine aviator and UW grad who had won the Medal of Honor in WWII. That's wrong -- but the girl's point that public institutions should also honor peacemakers (as Jesus proclaimed) is very valid.

Boortz on Feb. 15 fumed and fretted:

"Shall I repeat that? Jill Edwards, a Junior in Mathematics at the University of Washington, says that a U.S. Marine is not --- that's right, NOT the example of the sort of person that the University of Washington wants to produce. Let's let this sink in. To all of you men and women out there who have served with pride in the United States Marine Corps; to those of you who fought in World War II, Korea, Vietnam and the Middle East, Jill Edwards, student senate member at the University of Washington, thinks that you are unworthy to be graduates of the University of Washington. My father was a Marine."

What's wrong with Bootz's spin? It's a classic example of a fraud protesting too much.
As I -- and a medically retired Marine Corps veteran, Frank Kaner of Duluth, Ga. -- exposed last year, Boortz is the worst sort of draft dodger. For years on his radio show, Boortz had claimed that medical conditions prevented him from serving in the military during the Vietnam conflict. His fibs changed from time to time -- he usually claimed his eyes kept him out of uniform, but on a few occasions he said it was asthma.

That made me suspicious. After all, Boortz talks incessantly about flying his private planes. If he can do that, he certainly could have met the vision requirements to slog around in rice paddies in Vietnam. Boortz also has talked about such things as climbing mountains -- not a likely activity for someone who suffers from severe asthma.

After listening to Boortz for years shill for George Bush's Imperial Iraq Crusade, Kaner and I each made freedom of information requests about Boortz to the Selective Service. What we learned is that Boortz in 1964 had obtained a deferment granted to college students participating in ROTC type programs. Boortz had briefly enrolled in the Texas A&M cadet corps. But he dropped out of the corps, although he continued at the university. He never told his draft board. Had the board found out about his deception, he would have been immediately drafted. Boortz in 1968 obtained a deferment granted to those with dependents. At no time did he ever have a medical deferment.

In short, Boortz was a coward. While screaming for America to go fight wars, he lied to his draft board to avoid serving in uniform. It's quite possible, even likely, that another young man during the late 1960s -- when the combat in Vietnam peaked -- died in Boortz's place.
And, on the issue of criticizing the University of Washington student for not honoring the Marine aviator -- when Kaner contacted Boortz about his draft dodging, Boortz had nothing by disrespect and ridicule for the Marine veteran. Kaner, due to service related injuries and disabilities, was retired as a corporal. Boortz sneered in an email that having obtained the rank of corporal after 20 years (the usual time for retirement) indicated that Kaner wasn't much of a Marine. Kaner, of course, was retired after only a few years. Boortz, as usual, failed to check his facts.

So, who most dishonored the Marines? A young woman who believes you get peace by practicing peace? Or a guy who lied his way out of donning a uniform -- and then derides a veteran who did serve? Boortz is the one who truly dishonors all who served.