During the April 16 broadcast of his nationally syndicated radio show, while discussing the issue of public education with a caller, Neal Boortz stated: “I think the most dangerous -- the single most dangerous entity, group of people in this country right now are the teachers unions.” He continued: “I think teachers unions do more damage to this country than the Los Angeles Lakers. They do more damage to this country than all the drug pushers together. ... If I had a button right now, two buttons -- push this button and it gets rid of all the drug dealers; push this button, it gets rid of the teachers unions -- I'm getting rid of the teachers unions.”

During the discussion, when the caller suggested that Sen. Barack Obama would “put more money towards it [public education] and that's maybe what we need,” Boortz responded, "[I]t's never worked in the past," adding, “Look at Washington: What do you think they spend, per child, in the Washington, D.C., school system?” He later answered his own question, saying, “About $25,000 per child.” In fact, according to the National Center for Education Statistics, total per-pupil expenditures in the D.C. system for public elementary and secondary education in fiscal year 2006 were $13,752. The U.S. Census Bureau listed that figure at $13,446 for “2005-06.”

From the April 16 broadcast of Cox Radio Syndication's The Neal Boortz Show:

BOORTZ: Belinda, why do you have Sean blocked? I wanted to take that phone call.

BELINDA SKELTON (producer): Maybe he hung up.

BOORTZ: He's still on the screen.

SKELTON: Now he's not.

BOORTZ: OK. Hello, Katy, what's up?

CALLER: Hi. OK, so I've been a Barack Obama supporter --

BOORTZ: Will you come over here and swat Belinda for me?

CALLER: No problem, I'll be there soon.

BOORTZ: Yeah.

CALLER: As far as the primary is concerned, I've been a Barack Obama supporter strictly because I think that Hillary Clinton has no positive character to her whatsoever. Now --

BOORTZ: No positive character traits?

CALLER: Yes, like, and I'm defining character as what you do when no one is looking because it's the right thing.

BOORTZ: Woo-hoo! You know what? I don't even want to think about what Hillary Clinton does when nobody is looking.

CALLER: Oh, it'd be an ugly, ugly sight. Ooh, her with no make-up -- let me tell you!

BOORTZ: Oh! I'm eating lunch right now, Katy, thank you very much.

CALLER: Oh, I apologize for that bad image. My concern comes with Barack Obama, and that I -- like the last caller -- take serious issue with the way our public school system works. And thus far, Barack Obama is the only one who is speaking for some type of change, because if you put McCain back in there, he is presenting himself as just another Bush, and I don't think I'm prepared to go through eight more years of, you know --

BOORTZ: OK, what kind of changes, though? You know, 'cause I think the government schools are a principal agent of destruction for our country. So, what kind of change is Barack Obama proposing?

CALLER: Well, you know, you said before he's just going to put more money towards it and that's maybe what we need, because look at all of the schools that don't --

BOORTZ: It's never worked -- it's never worked in the past.

CALLER: I feel like a reallocation of funds is what's needed. And, you know, I don't necessarily agree with creating more government, because God knows our government is not top notch.

BOORTZ: Look at Washington: What do you think they spend, per child, in the Washington, D.C., school system?

CALLER: Ooh, ooh, that's -- that is a figure I don't think I can come up with.

BOORTZ: About $25,000 per child.

CALLER: Really?

BOORTZ: In the Atlanta area, it's about $14,000 per child, OK?

CALLER: And the --

BOORTZ: And the results are horrible.

CALLER: I agree. I completely agree. We don't --

BOORTZ: So, I just -- I just -- you know, I don't see how throwing any more money at this is going to help. The way you help is by making the teachers and the administrators accountable, and the way you do that is by getting rid of their unions, so that you can fire them.

CALLER: OK. I completely agree with that.

BOORTZ: Overnight.

CALLER: So, you're saying, as far as our country's going, unions are one of our biggest issues.

BOORTZ: Oh, I think the most dangerous -- the single most dangerous entity, group of people in this country right now are the teachers unions. I think teachers unions do more damage to this country than the Los Angeles Lakers. They do more damage to this country than all the drug pushers together.

CALLER: Yeah?

BOORTZ: If I had a button right now, two buttons -- push this button and it gets rid of all the drug dealers; push this button, it gets rid of the teachers unions -- I'm getting rid of the teachers unions.

CALLER: Yeah, I can agree with that. I think that -- you know, I grew up in a private school system my entire life, and I have always looked at the problem with public schools being the overcrowding, which no one can really help, and the fact that the teachers aren't held accountable. So, it's interesting to hear that that's because of the unions, 'cause I don't think I've ever really thought of that.

BOORTZ: OK, by the way, Katy, one thing here.

CALLER: Hmm-mm.

BOORTZ: Here's something else: You haven't done anything your entire life. It's like when you ask somebody, “How long have you lived here?” “My whole life.” Not yet you haven't.

CALLER: That's true. Well, my life thus far.

BOORTZ: OK, that's good. See, I'm just screwing around with you, I'm sorry.

CALLER: I enjoyed it.

BOORTZ: OK. Well, I did, too.

CALLER: Have a wonderful day.

BOORTZ: You too, Katy.

CALLER: Bye.

BOORTZ: OK, bye-bye.