About us Login Get email updates
Research
Print

Boortz: "Muslims, making tortillas? ... [W]ith all of the illegal Mexicans in this country, we can't find some Mexicans to make those tortillas?"

May 30, 2008 2:35 pm ET

Please upgrade your flash player. The audio for this item requires a newer version of Flash Player. If you are unable to install flash you can download a MP3 version of the audio.

SUMMARY: While discussing reports that six Muslim women were fired from a Minnesota tortilla factory because of dress code violations, Neal Boortz asked: "Muslims, making tortillas? You know, this world is really screwed up when Muslims are making our tortillas, folks." He added: "I mean, with all of the illegal Mexicans in this country, we can't find some Mexicans to make those tortillas?

69 Comments

On the May 29 broadcast of his nationally syndicated radio show, while discussing reports that six Muslim women were fired from a Minnesota tortilla factory because of dress code violations, host Neal Boortz asked: "Muslims, making tortillas? You know, this world is really screwed up when Muslims are making our tortillas, folks." He added: "I mean, with all of the illegal Mexicans in this country, we can't find some Mexicans to make those tortillas?"

During his April 10 broadcast, Boortz asserted, "I would make a lousy Mexican," while discussing his difficulty in handling a floor buffer. During the next day's broadcast, responding to the item that Media Matters for America wrote about his previous day's comments, Boortz said: "I'm on 'Media Morons' today ... because I said yesterday on the air that I would make a lousy Mexican because I was trying to use one of those floor buffers and it tossed me around ... when any Mexican worth his salt would be able to do that without getting hurt." On the June 21, 2007, broadcast of his show, Boortz offered a suggestion he said he got from a listener's email, saying, "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." He continued: "Tell 'em it can -- it'll heat tortillas." Boortz also previously suggested that the U.S. government should "store 11 million Hispanics," who entered the country illegally, in the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans before deporting them to their home countries; said: "I don't care if Mexicans pile up against that fence [along the U.S.-Mexico border] like tumbleweeds in the Santa Ana winds in Southern California"; and claimed that non-English-speaking Latinos are "the ones with sombreros" and "bandoliers full of bullets across their chest."

During the August 14, 2007, broadcast of his show, while discussing the alleged "Islamization of Western Europe," Boortz claimed that because "Muslims don't eat during the day during Ramadan" and "fast during the day and eat at night," they are "sort of like cockroaches." On the July 19, 2006, edition of his show, Boortz claimed that "at its core," Islam is a "violent, violent religion," and said, "[T]his Muhammad guy is just a phony rag-picker." Boortz also said that "[i]t is perfectly legitimate, perhaps even praiseworthy, to recognize Islam as a religion of vicious, violent, bloodthirsty cretins."

From the May 29 broadcast of Cox Radio Syndication's The Neal Boortz Show:

BOORTZ: What's this? What's -- Oh. Oh. New Brighton. Is this Minnesota? I guess. A tortilla factory -- a group of Muslim workers say that they were fired at the tortilla -- Muslims, making tortillas? You know, this world is really screwed up when Muslims are making our tortillas, folks. I mean, with all of the illegal Mexicans in this country, we can't find some Mexicans to make those tortillas?

But six Somali women claim they were ordered by a manager to wear pants and shirts to work, instead of their traditional Islamic clothing of loose-fitting skirts and scarves. They refused. They were fired. Now, we have the Council on American-Islamic Relations involved in this. OK. The reason they were told they couldn't wear these loose-fitting -- they have a uniform standard at this food -- this tortilla factory to -- it's a safety thing -- to keep clothing from getting caught up in machinery, to reduce fire risks. The jobs don't belong to the Muslim women, they belong to the tortilla factory, OK?

Expand All Expand 1st Level Collapse All Add Comment
    • Author by MickD (May 30, 2008 2:44 pm ET)
         
      Hey Zach, did you get the short straw in the office and got assigned Boortz? Dang, it makes my summer job at the steel mill seem like cake.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by NiceguyEddie (May 30, 2008 2:48 pm ET)
         
      Can we give this guy the 'Imus treatmet' yet?!
      Report Abuse
    • Author by wzwriter (May 30, 2008 2:53 pm ET)
         

      "I mean, with all of the illegal Mexicans in this country, we can't find some Mexicans to make those tortillas?

      And with all the sane, rational people in this country, they have to give a talk show to THIS imbecilic, moronic clown?

      Report Abuse
    • Author by captfoster2 (May 30, 2008 2:54 pm ET)
         

      I can only imagine that the reason this thread is here is because Boortz is another example of right-wing thinking (i.e. stupidity, ignorance, and intolerance) and MMFA is simply bringing it up......

      I get it.... Neal Boortz is nothing more than a blithering idiot!

      If only his listeners would get it.

      Report Abuse
      • Author by wzwriter (May 30, 2008 3:00 pm ET)
           

        I get it.... Neal Boortz is nothing more than a blithering idiot!

        If only his listeners would get it.

        They won't.  They blither as much as Neal does.

        Report Abuse
    • Author by wesley (May 30, 2008 3:21 pm ET)
         

      It appears that somebody crapped in mmfa's wheaties this morning...negating any sense of humor. First the Beck thread and now this one.

      Life is not solely about politics...loosen your tie every once in a while. 

      Report Abuse
      • Author by princeofwheels (May 30, 2008 3:25 pm ET)
           

        Since Boortz was taken off the air in Pittsburgh, I am glad to see that he is still his unusual self.

        I wonder if Mr. Boortz has ever eaten one of those tacos/shells which were touched by any Muslims.

        Report Abuse
        • Author by onionhead (May 30, 2008 7:53 pm ET)
             
          Maybe he should be making tortillas instead of having a radio show.
          Report Abuse
      • Author by mr. l (May 30, 2008 3:36 pm ET)
           
        This guy isn't funny.  You are correct that life isn't all politics, but adults shoudn't be paid money to fan racism and ethnocentric phobias across the airwaves.  You want to be a dic, be one at the bar.  Leave your megaphone at home. 
        Report Abuse
      • Author by jeter2 (May 30, 2008 3:37 pm ET)
           

        Wes,

        You know it's tippy-toe PC time when mentioning certain groups. Can't make jokes about Muslims. Can't make jokes about Illegal Mexican aliens.

        I'll agree some jokes cross the line. This one doesn't.

        This thread is more about MMFA's hate for Boortz than Boortz's lame, but harmless joke.

        Report Abuse
        • Author by wesley (May 30, 2008 3:44 pm ET)
             

          Agreed Jeter.

          Boortz is on for several hours a day...and this lame but relatively harmless joke is what trips mmfa's trigger?

          Nah...just as you said...an excuse to rip Boortz...for any reason. mmfa's watchdog tiara slipped a long time ago. 

          Report Abuse
          • Author by mary59 (May 30, 2008 4:09 pm ET)
               
            Perhaps, dear ones, but as the article above your keyboarding mentions, the inestimable Boortz may erupt at any time into something much more Boorish.
            Report Abuse
          • Author by Lynn (May 30, 2008 5:46 pm ET)
               
            Jeter and Wes you two might not find these types of jokes so harmless if you belonged to the ethnic groups that were constantly being stereotyped and ridiculed. Now I don't think you guys buy into these 1 dement ional caricatures of members of certain ethnic groups but many of your fellow Americans do like the guy whose advise to Barrack Obama is to "get him self together and stop acting so Black".  I bet you have never been in a fancy restaurant and been mistaken for the coat check person, or other sundry service personnel because some of your fellow patrons couldn't imagine there was any other reason for you being there. Some of us can’t afford to find this stuff so harmless and just for the record I find all of those White people can’t dance jokes stupid and unimaginative, although George Bush really can’t dance. In addition you really do have to consider the source of this joke Boortz who is a dipsh-it has shown open hostility for Hispanics and other minorities like he just really really doesn’t like nappy hair.  And Wes you know how sensitive you are about jokes about rural people????
            Report Abuse
            • Author by pearlene_scott1602 (May 30, 2008 7:54 pm ET)
                 

              Lynn, thanks.

              I'm afraid I'm a little tired of explaining again.

              Report Abuse
            • Author by open_mind (May 30, 2008 8:15 pm ET)
                 

              "although George Bush really can’t dance."--lynn

              To be honest, I cringe whenever Hillary or Howard Dean are clapping along to music in a black church.  Some white people are just completely physically incapable of clapping on the back-beat - no matter what party they are in.

              Report Abuse
              • Author by Col. Harlan Sanders (May 30, 2008 10:33 pm ET)
                   

                Har! and Amen, Open. Can't we start some sort of school for our young white kids to get the downbeat thing figured out, or is it something genetic?

                I used to fill in playing bass with a friend's band sometimes, and it was a sort of quiet acoustic type group, with mostly white audiences, who insisted on clapping along to random rhythms in their heads. Used to throw me off pretty bad when they got louder than the drummer. We'd always compliment them on being such an "upbeat" crowd.

                Report Abuse
                • Author by open_mind (May 31, 2008 12:56 am ET)
                     

                  "Har! and Amen, Open. Can't we start some sort of school for our young white kids to get the downbeat thing figured out, or is it something genetic?"--The Colonel

                  No it isn't genetic.  It is dietary.  Too much mayonaise.  I think that is it.

                  Report Abuse
                  • Author by Col. Harlan Sanders (May 31, 2008 4:23 am ET)
                       

                    And Velveeta.

                    If you want a really good laugh, tune in one of those Sunday morning SuperChurch shows, when they get a gospel choir singing to the white evengelical audience.The 1-2-3-4- clapping is a complete assault on what's actually going on with the music.

                    Report Abuse
    • Author by thomp.steve9098 (May 30, 2008 3:50 pm ET)
         

      The story referenced by Boortz is ridiculous.  Allah forbid those stubborn employees have to wear uniforms to work.  I bet a number of us can't wear what we want to work. I gotta wear a suit, and it sucks in the hot and humid summer. Tough sh!t

      Report Abuse
      • Author by tommy (May 30, 2008 3:54 pm ET)
           
        Of course it's nonsense, and if this is what CAIR spends its time on, then they are pretty worthless.
        Report Abuse
        • Author by wesley (May 30, 2008 4:01 pm ET)
             

           -- "For these women, wearing tight-fitting pants is like being naked," said Valerie Shirley, a spokeswoman for the Minnesota chapter of CAIR. "It's simply not an option." -- CAIR

          Who said they had to wear tight pants? I doubt that is what the dress code calls for...pants so tight you look naked...lol

          Did the women read their employment agreement?  

          Report Abuse
          • Author by tommy (May 30, 2008 4:04 pm ET)
               
            Well, I imagine they could find other employment but those chains around their wrists forcing them to work there are hard to break free of.
            Report Abuse
        • Author by mr. l (May 30, 2008 4:04 pm ET)
             
          CAIR is probably just checking it out.  We don't have the facts, so let's not pre-judge.  What I'm wondering is this the womens' FIRST day at work?  Did they not know the dress code beforehand?  Have they been working there for a while and did the rules change overnight?  Was the manager lazy and didn't KNOW they werer violating?  Time will tell...
          Report Abuse
            • Author by wesley (May 30, 2008 4:10 pm ET)
                 

              hahahaha...

              I suppose the right thing to do...to appease CAIR...would be to change the dress code. Make it mandatory for all women and men to wear loose fitting skirts and scarves. 

              Report Abuse
              • Author by thomp.steve9098 (May 30, 2008 4:13 pm ET)
                   
                That sounds good, so long as the employer is required to avoid all possibility of offending someone's religious beliefs
                Report Abuse
          • Author by dexteritas0071418 (May 30, 2008 4:23 pm ET)
               

            Obviously, Mr. L, if it comes out that the women were fired unjustly because of lack of notice on the change, etc. then I think the story will come out differently.

             I come down on this somewhere in the middle (yeah what's new). As long as there was nothing sketchy about how this went down, I think the employer does have the right to impose uniforms, and has the right to fire the women if they didn't comply. That being said, seems like the employer could've also made some arrangement (Assuming there's not some new dangerous machine that likes to chew loose clothing) to accommodate them; but did they HAVE to? I guess not.

            If there was nothing dangerous about the women's clothing, I would suggest that in the future, the women are simply required to wear the colors of the uniform as their burqa, along with their name patch.  I think that's a fair compromise.

              

            Report Abuse
                • Author by open_mind (May 31, 2008 12:59 am ET)
                     
                  Well at least not gratuitously.  If the employer has a legitimate safety reason I can understand.  I suppose they are working that out.
                  Report Abuse
          • Author by wesley (May 30, 2008 4:37 pm ET)
               

             -- We don't have the facts, so let's not pre-judge. -- Mr L

            Fair enough...here's a little more background on the story:

             -- No safety issues have emerged regarding Muslim dress in the last 2 years the Muslim women have been employed. OSHA inspectors did not cite the plant for any hazards relating to employee dress during an inspection earlier this year. Furthermore, new management implemented the new uniform policy in February 2008, accommodated the women initially by allowing them to wear lab coats, and then abruptly took that accommodation away in April 2008.

            Report Abuse
            • Author by open_mind (May 31, 2008 1:01 am ET)
                 

              I see why CAIR is concerned.  I can see how one might think these women are being targeted for no reason at all.  I don't blame CAIR for getting involved to make sure the women aren't being descriminated against merely for their religion.

              Report Abuse
          • Author by shaggles (May 30, 2008 5:25 pm ET)
               
            I'm wondering the same thing.
            Report Abuse
              • Author by friedbergboy1422 (May 30, 2008 7:04 pm ET)
                   

                Wesley,

                The scarves better not be black and white plaid though, Malkin and her ilk will boycott!

                Report Abuse
          • Author by dbeden4153 (May 30, 2008 4:25 pm ET)
               

            "Who said they had to wear tight pants? I doubt that is what the dress code calls for...pants so tight you look naked...lol"

            No, but I can guarantee you the dress code calls for tight-fitting clothes, or at least clothes that are not loose, as dresses and scarves usually are.  It's part of the OSHA standards, and you'll find it in any reputable factory around the country.  Ever worked in a factory?  Then you would know this by now. 

            Report Abuse
            • Author by wesley (May 30, 2008 4:29 pm ET)
                 

              Nope...

              OHSA does not require you to wear tight fitting clothes that make you look naked...as asserted by CAIR. 

              Report Abuse
              • Author by Col. Harlan Sanders (May 30, 2008 4:41 pm ET)
                   

                Thanks, Wesley. I'm going to have a few words with my OSHA rep's supervisor.As soon as I can get these pants off.

                Report Abuse
                • Author by tommy (May 30, 2008 4:43 pm ET)
                     
                  Please, go behind your monitor when taking your pants off.
                  Report Abuse
                • Author by juliajayne (May 30, 2008 4:50 pm ET)
                     
                  Hey., Col, the female trick in getting tight pants on or off is laying down on the bed or floor. Need any tips on taking your "manzierre" or "bro"off?
                  Report Abuse
                  • Author by Col. Harlan Sanders (May 30, 2008 5:31 pm ET)
                       
                    No thanks, JJ, I have my valet help with that. And why is there a web cam on the back of my monitor with a big "T" engraved on it?
                    Report Abuse
                    • Author by tommy (May 30, 2008 5:48 pm ET)
                         

                      Look closer, you will see a "Tf" (Too funny).

                      ;) 

                      Report Abuse
                      • Author by Col. Harlan Sanders (May 30, 2008 6:31 pm ET)
                           
                        It's harassment,it's a violation of my privacy, and it's NOT FUNNY !
                        Report Abuse
                  • Author by Col. Harlan Sanders (May 31, 2008 4:25 am ET)
                       
                    JJ, thanks for the tip on getting women's pants off.Your sisters may curse you, but I need all the help I can get.
                    Report Abuse
              • Author by dbeden4153 (May 30, 2008 4:45 pm ET)
                   

                OF course I made no mention of the naked bit, which is a religious/cultural stigma, I was simply saying that they are required to wear tight fitting clothes.  To those women, tight fitting clothes is akin to wearing nothing. 

                Wait, why am I even having to explain this to you?  

                Here, for your enjoyment, Michelle Malkin with a Keffiyah

                 

                Report Abuse
                • Author by commonsenseliberal (May 30, 2008 4:58 pm ET)
                     

                  Note re: Michelle Malkin and the keffiyeh issue...

                  Can she be more of a jerk?  Come on, Rachel Ray was doing a commercial, for God's sake.  You would think that Malkin, being the conservative pig-girl that she is, would support big business/capitalism and the ability to advertise your product. 

                  But no, she has to somehow tie Rachel Ray with terrorism because of a scarf she was wearing - not even her scarf, mind you.  She was wearing the scarf her dresser chose for her.  It doesn't belong to Rachel Ray.  The idea of supporting terrorists was never even there. 

                  Malkin is a dishonest creep.  If she hasn't already, she's lost in conservative wing-nut world.

                  Now back to the topic at hand.  Thank you.

                  Report Abuse
              • Author by open_mind (May 31, 2008 1:04 am ET)
                   

                To ultra-conservative islamists, any pants would be considered skin-tight and obscene.  That used to be the case in America as well before we became more progressive.

                These guys think you are a liberal weenie, wes.

                Report Abuse
          • Author by Easy to refute wingnuts (May 30, 2008 5:00 pm ET)
               

            Did the women read their employment agreement? 

            Have you? 

            Report Abuse
            • Author by open_mind (May 31, 2008 1:07 am ET)
                 
              The law makes it pretty clear the women's religious requirements (if not a safety hazzard) should be accommodated if at all possible.  These kinds of employees rarely have "employment agreements" as far as I know.
              Report Abuse
    • Author by commonsenseliberal (May 30, 2008 4:54 pm ET)
         

      I think many of you are missing the point.

      Boortz is a pr!ck because he makes racial generalizations (what, there aren't enough Mexicans to make tortillas?) as if (illegal) Mexicans are the only people who (can) make tortillas.

      Further, you have to look at Boortz' motives behind this.  He's a racist pig and with this segment of his program, he was able to slam two ethnic groups at once.  Nice.

      I understand that many of you are discussing whether it is right or wrong to fire these women - and that is definitely a concern.  But the topic is Boortz being a racist idiot, not the ability to wear what one wants to work.

      Report Abuse
      • Author by juliajayne (May 30, 2008 5:06 pm ET)
           
        CSL. your handle fits your post. Nicely summed up.
        Report Abuse
      • Author by Leftwingcenter (May 30, 2008 5:17 pm ET)
           
        CSL, as I pointed out in the Beck thread for today, the "humor" in Boortz's garbage is the bully's "I was just jokin'!" when he's caught giving someone a swirlie...
        Report Abuse
    • Author by sportsguydave (May 30, 2008 6:14 pm ET)
         
      Boortz is just jealous because he and most of his knuckle-dragging audience aren't qualified for these jobs ... :) 
      Report Abuse
    • Author by bcvb1949a (May 31, 2008 1:42 am ET)
         

      What's the point of this?  Boortz makes an assumption about Mexican's/Hispanics.  That's a little over the top.  But is totally correct about dress codes in factories.

      These lovely Muslim Women would be the first to sue if their attire got caught in some machinery or caught fire.

      Muslims belong in Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Iran, Turkey.  Get out while you can.  You get no tears from me.

      Report Abuse
      • Author by open_mind (May 31, 2008 1:58 am ET)
           
        Can you point out where anyone is claiming this is because of safety?  If so, why wasn't it a problem in the past?  What has changed?
        Report Abuse
      • Author by open_mind (May 31, 2008 1:59 am ET)
           

        "These lovely Muslim Women would be the first to sue if their attire got caught in some machinery or caught fire."--bcvb

        Please spare us the mindreading.

        Report Abuse
      • Author by open_mind (May 31, 2008 2:00 am ET)
           

        "Muslims belong in Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Iran, Turkey.  Get out while you can.  You get no tears from me."--bcvb

        I guess that explains the rest of your post.  Pure bigotry.

        Report Abuse
    • Author by The Libertarian Guy (May 31, 2008 8:21 pm ET)
         

      If Boortz tossed out a line about white guys making Wonder Bread and mayo sandwiches... ahh, skip it.

       

      Report Abuse