Radio Talker Neal Boortz Ridicules Learning-Disabled Child

    MaiMai News - March 10, 2008 - Radio talk show host Neal Boortz of WSB in Atlanta has made a name for himself with his trademark "Insensitivity Training."

But Boortz may have gone too far last Friday when he used his nationally-syndicated Neal Boortz Show to mock and ridicule the speech patterns of a developmentally disabled nine year old.

Little Jordan Welch was recorded by reporters after a large piece of green ice fell from an airplane through the roof of his family's tire shop in Lula, Georgia.

Boortz played the audiotape of Jordan repeatedly on his show, mocking the boy, his father, Gordon, and the family business and suggesting that Jordan would wind up "fixing tires" or "selling worms." The so-called Talkmaster also accused Gordon Welch of child abuse.

Local citizens are calling for an on-air apology, and Atlanta's developmentally disabled community is weighing a respose.

Dr. Preston Coleman, a local college professor and media critic, broke the story on his web site, http://www.newsprism.wordpress.com, as Boortz was still ridiculing the Welches.

"I think the national media should look into this," Coleman said. "It makes the Don Imus statement look mild in comparison."

WSB General Manager Don Kearney is also looking into the incident.