Editing Neal Boortz (section)

== Political beliefs ==

Boortz is a self-described [[Libertarianism|libertarian]].<ref name="profile">{{cite web|url=http://atlanta.about.com/od/celebrityprofiles/p/nealboortz.htm |first=Joy |last=Johnston |publisher=About.com |title=Neal Boortz Atlanta Celebrity Profile |access-date=2007-09-14 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060521193735/http://atlanta.about.com/od/celebrityprofiles/p/nealboortz.htm |archive-date=May 21, 2006 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://boortz.com/nuze/200610/10042006.html|first=Neal|last=Boortz|publisher=Cox Radio|work=Nealz Nuze|title=Following Up On Yesterday's Tirade|date=2006-10-04|access-date=2006-10-05|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061111015507/http://boortz.com/nuze/200610/10042006.html|archive-date=2006-11-11}}</ref> He advocates a complete overhaul of the U.S. tax system and the release of all non-violent drug offenders who are currently in prison. He has supported [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] candidates and Republican tax policy, though he occasionally clashes with Republicans on social issues.<ref name="profile" /> Others describe his political views as being more in line with "[[Libertarian Republican|republitarian]]" philosophy that embraces [[incrementalism]] domestically, and a generally [[interventionism (politics)|interventionist foreign policy]] based on self-interest, national defense and the expansion of [[liberty|freedom]].<ref name="ftb"/><ref name="preempt">{{cite web|title=Just What Is The Problem With Pre-Emptive Warfare|url=http://boortz.com/nuze/200311/11242003.html|last=Boortz|first=Neal|date=2003-11-24|access-date=2007-10-07|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071118134446/http://boortz.com/nuze/200311/11242003.html|archive-date=2007-11-18}}</ref> Boortz disagrees with the [[Libertarian Party (United States)|Libertarian Party]] platform on several key issues including his firm support of the [[war in Iraq]],<ref name="preempt"/> incremental tax reform,<ref name="ftb"/> and his opposition to the unrestricted immigration policy advocated by the Libertarian Party.

Boortz criticizes the major parties saying "I believe that the principal difference between the Democrats and the Republicans is that the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrats]] just want to grow our Imperial Federal Government a bit faster than the Republicans do."<ref name="wdbo2">{{cite web|url=http://580wdbo.com/about_us/nealboortz2.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010629045336/http://580wdbo.com/about_us/nealboortz2.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=2001-06-29 |publisher=580wdbo.com |title=Neal Boortz |access-date=2007-09-14 }}</ref> He sides with [[Modern liberalism in the United States|liberals]] on some social issues such as [[abortion]], [[same-sex marriage]], and civil liberties.<ref name="sgsi"/> He agrees with [[Fiscal conservatism|fiscal conservatives]] in advocating less government spending and decreasing corporate regulation. He is an advocate for [[freedom of speech]]. In line with the traditional views of the Libertarian Party, Boortz supports eliminating the [[War on Drugs]], and emphasizing personal responsibility.<ref name="sgsi"/> He has repeatedly stated his belief that [[global climate change]] is not man-made. His stances on many of these issues make him popular among conservative Republicans, who, due to their larger numbers in comparison to [[Libertarian Party (United States)|Libertarians]], make up the majority of his listeners and callers.{{Citation needed|date=April 2012}}

Boortz's post-[[September 11, 2001 attacks|9/11]] platforms include support for the US-led [[War on Terror]], a more aggressive foreign policy,<ref name="preempt"/> and the [[USA Patriot Act]]. He is also strongly in favor of a crackdown on [[illegal immigration]], including harsh penalties for businesses who employ persons here illegally.  These views occasionally put him in conflict with the Libertarian Party. [[Justin Raimondo]] of [[Antiwar.com]] has called Boortz a "[[Statism|statist]], not a libertarian" and a "liberventionist" and has urged the Libertarian Party to "Boot Boortz".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.antiwar.com/justin/jspecial112603.html|first=Justin|last=Raimondo|publisher=Antiwar.com|title=Boot Boortz!|date=2003-11-26|access-date=2006-08-16}}</ref>

Prior to the 2006 midterm elections, Boortz opined that perhaps it would be a good thing to have the Republicans lose power in Congress, forcing them to wake up and stop taking their base for granted. Boortz told one disgruntled caller:
<blockquote>I am happy about it [the defeat]. It's the only way to get these Republicans to wake themselves up and say, 'You have abandoned what you were put in office for.'<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/09/AR2006110900064.html|first=Matthew|last=Bigg|publisher=Reuters|title=Talk radio hosts lick election wounds|date=2006-11-09|access-date=2006-11-09}}{{dead link|date=June 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref></blockquote>

Boortz creates controversy among conservatives for his support of [[Abortion-rights movements|abortion rights]] (on which Boortz does not allow calls), for his refusal to condemn [[homosexuality]] or [[Same-sex marriage|gay marriage]],<ref name="sgsi"/><ref name="gay">{{cite web|title=That Bush .. He's Really In Touch, Isn't He?|last=Boortz|first=Neal|url=http://boortz.com/nuze/200606/06052006.html|publisher=Cox Radio|date=2006-06-05|access-date=2007-10-06|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071118143935/http://boortz.com/nuze/200606/06052006.html|archive-date=2007-11-18}}</ref> and for his negative comments regarding [[Baptists]] and the [[Young Earth creationism|biblical story of creation]]. Although he calls himself a Christian, he keeps his religious views private.<ref name="sgsi"/> He has also caused a stir among some Southerners, by coining the term "Flaggots" during his frequent jabs at them and at [[Confederate States of America|Confederate]] issues (such as governmental support of the [[Confederate flag]]).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://georgiaheritagecouncil.org/site2/commentary/scroggins-ACLU-boortz-cobb.phtml|title=Strange bedfellows:the ACLU, Neal Boortz & Cobb County police|access-date=2007-10-07|last=Scroggins|first=Steve|publisher=GeorgiaHeritageCouncil.org|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070822124008/http://georgiaheritagecouncil.org/site2/commentary/scroggins-ACLU-boortz-cobb.phtml|archive-date=2007-08-22}}</ref>