Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Live At Daybreak

Interview With Neal Boortz

Aired October 17, 2002 - 06:36   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: We want to talk more about the sniper attacks; also a virtual attack on Saddam Hussein, and North Korea nukes -- all on the mind of our next guest, nationally- syndicated radio talk show host Neal Boortz.
Good morning, Neal.

NEAL BOORTZ, RADIO TALK SHOW HOST: How're you doing?

COSTELLO: I'm fine. You know, I want to talk a little bit more about the sniper situation...

BOORTZ: OK.

COSTELLO: ... because in "The Washington Post" yesterday, there were tips for staying safe, and some radio show hosts around the Washington area are upset at this, because they said that this is adding to the hysteria. And let me read some of the tips...

BOORTZ: OK.

COSTELLO: ... to let people know what we're talking about.

One tip is, "When moving outside, walk briskly in a zigzag pattern."

Another one: "If you are fired on in an open area, drop to the ground and roll away from where you are standing. Look for the closest protective cover, and run toward it in short, zigzag dashes."

BOORTZ: Is this going to look crazy, everybody in Maryland or Virginia walking zigzag everywhere they go? Politicians do that all the time, but normal people don't. And the people who get fired on do drop to the ground. They drop to the ground because they've been hit.

COSTELLO: Right.

BOORTZ: OK?

COSTELLO: (UNINTELLIGIBLE). But do you think this kind of stuff adds to the hysteria?

BOORTZ: Yes.

COSTELLO: I mean, people are already afraid in Washington.

BOORTZ: Yes, I'll go along with Jimmy on that. Yes, it adds to the hysteria. It really does.

Now, people are going to be wearing running shoes to work, they're going to be bumping into light poles and each other and crashing through windows just trying to stay out of the way.

Look, your chances of being hit by the sniper up there are still much, much less than your chance of being struck by lightening. Is "The Washington Post" -- or is it "The Post?"

COSTELLO: Yes.

BOORTZ: Are they printing stories about how to protect yourself from lightening?

The law enforcement will get this guy. In the meantime, it would be nice if people could try -- it's easy for us to say, he's not in Atlanta...

COSTELLO: Yes, exactly.

BOORTZ: ... -- try to go about their normal lives somewhat.

COSTELLO: Yes, and use common sense tactics to keep yourself safe just...

BOORTZ: Yes, and arm themselves.

COSTELLO: Neal, we're not going to get into that this morning. No way!

Hey, let's talk about this video game that's out.

BOORTZ: Oh, yes.

COSTELLO: It's Gotham Games that put this video out. I guess you can buy it in your computer store?

BOORTZ: Yes.

COSTELLO: It is a -- it features 15 episodes of attacks on Iraq, culminating in a bloody assassination of Saddam Hussein.

BOORTZ: Wow, can I get an "amen" for that! It's kind of like an Iraqi version of "The Sims."

COSTELLO: Well, a lot of people are complaining that, you know, kids get ahold of this, and the final scene of the assassination is quite grizzly.

BOORTZ: Yes, Saddam's teeth, hair and eyeballs are all over the concrete. It's...

COSTELLO: I see you don't have a problem with this game.

BOORTZ: No -- well, OK. Some of the video games are violent, and as a matter of fact, back to the sniper, some -- there were suggestions earlier this week that this sniper may be, you know, Columbine-type teenagers that were trained on video games at home. I don't know. The video...

COSTELLO: Now, that comes up with every shooting spree that comes along.

BOORTZ: Sure it does, and the video games are violent. And I mean, the assassination of Saddam Hussein is a lot better than some of these other games you can get out there, like how to steal cars and mow down children in school zones.

COSTELLO: They sell video games like that out there?

BOORTZ: Yes.

COSTELLO: Holy cow! All right, Neal Boortz, thank you very much. We've got to wrap things up for this morning.

BOORTZ: See you later.

COSTELLO: OK.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.







Aired October 17, 2002 - 06:36   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: We want to talk more about the sniper attacks; also a virtual attack on Saddam Hussein, and North Korea nukes -- all on the mind of our next guest, nationally- syndicated radio talk show host Neal Boortz.
Good morning, Neal.

NEAL BOORTZ, RADIO TALK SHOW HOST: How're you doing?

COSTELLO: I'm fine. You know, I want to talk a little bit more about the sniper situation...

BOORTZ: OK.

COSTELLO: ... because in "The Washington Post" yesterday, there were tips for staying safe, and some radio show hosts around the Washington area are upset at this, because they said that this is adding to the hysteria. And let me read some of the tips...

BOORTZ: OK.

COSTELLO: ... to let people know what we're talking about.

One tip is, "When moving outside, walk briskly in a zigzag pattern."

Another one: "If you are fired on in an open area, drop to the ground and roll away from where you are standing. Look for the closest protective cover, and run toward it in short, zigzag dashes."

BOORTZ: Is this going to look crazy, everybody in Maryland or Virginia walking zigzag everywhere they go? Politicians do that all the time, but normal people don't. And the people who get fired on do drop to the ground. They drop to the ground because they've been hit.

COSTELLO: Right.

BOORTZ: OK?

COSTELLO: (UNINTELLIGIBLE). But do you think this kind of stuff adds to the hysteria?

BOORTZ: Yes.

COSTELLO: I mean, people are already afraid in Washington.

BOORTZ: Yes, I'll go along with Jimmy on that. Yes, it adds to the hysteria. It really does.

Now, people are going to be wearing running shoes to work, they're going to be bumping into light poles and each other and crashing through windows just trying to stay out of the way.

Look, your chances of being hit by the sniper up there are still much, much less than your chance of being struck by lightening. Is "The Washington Post" -- or is it "The Post?"

COSTELLO: Yes.

BOORTZ: Are they printing stories about how to protect yourself from lightening?

The law enforcement will get this guy. In the meantime, it would be nice if people could try -- it's easy for us to say, he's not in Atlanta...

COSTELLO: Yes, exactly.

BOORTZ: ... -- try to go about their normal lives somewhat.

COSTELLO: Yes, and use common sense tactics to keep yourself safe just...

BOORTZ: Yes, and arm themselves.

COSTELLO: Neal, we're not going to get into that this morning. No way!

Hey, let's talk about this video game that's out.

BOORTZ: Oh, yes.

COSTELLO: It's Gotham Games that put this video out. I guess you can buy it in your computer store?

BOORTZ: Yes.

COSTELLO: It is a -- it features 15 episodes of attacks on Iraq, culminating in a bloody assassination of Saddam Hussein.

BOORTZ: Wow, can I get an "amen" for that! It's kind of like an Iraqi version of "The Sims."

COSTELLO: Well, a lot of people are complaining that, you know, kids get ahold of this, and the final scene of the assassination is quite grizzly.

BOORTZ: Yes, Saddam's teeth, hair and eyeballs are all over the concrete. It's...

COSTELLO: I see you don't have a problem with this game.

BOORTZ: No -- well, OK. Some of the video games are violent, and as a matter of fact, back to the sniper, some -- there were suggestions earlier this week that this sniper may be, you know, Columbine-type teenagers that were trained on video games at home. I don't know. The video...

COSTELLO: Now, that comes up with every shooting spree that comes along.

BOORTZ: Sure it does, and the video games are violent. And I mean, the assassination of Saddam Hussein is a lot better than some of these other games you can get out there, like how to steal cars and mow down children in school zones.

COSTELLO: They sell video games like that out there?

BOORTZ: Yes.

COSTELLO: Holy cow! All right, Neal Boortz, thank you very much. We've got to wrap things up for this morning.

BOORTZ: See you later.

COSTELLO: OK.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.