Liberal Teacher Placed on Leave for Wishing Rush Limbaugh Has 'Painful Death'
Wisconsin public school teacher celebrated 'awesome' cancer diagnosis
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A liberal teacher has been placed on leave after triggering outrage by celebrating Rush Limbaugh's "awesome" cancer diagnosis and saying he hopes he has a "painful" death.
The public school teacher from Wisconsin was responding to news that conservative radio host Limbaugh had been diagnosed with advanced lung cancer, saying he "should have to suffer" from his illness.
Travis Sarandos, who teaches in Milwaukee, took to Twitter to attack the cancer-stricken political commentator.
"Limbaugh absolutely should have to suffer from cancer," Sarandos allegedly tweeted Monday.
"It's awesome that he's dying, and hopefully it is as quick as it is painful,” the educator reportedly added, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
The school board didn't find Sarandos' comments "awesome," however, and he was placed on leave from his job following the backlash to his remarks.
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Sarandos was replying to another tweet whose author said they hoped Limbaugh recovered quickly and would advocate for affordable health care for everyone, the newspaper reported.
The teacher's tweet sparked a backlash after local radio host Mark Belling posted it on his blog Tuesday.
Milwaukee Public Schools first said Sarandos did not speak for the district but later confirmed he had been placed on leave.
Limbaugh announced on his radio show Monday that he has been diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer.
On Tuesday night, President Donald Trump awarded Limbaugh the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor, during the State of the Union address at the U.S. Capitol.
Limbaugh returned to his show Friday after missing three shows for treatments.
He said those supporting him since disclosing his diagnosis have made him feel like "one of the luckiest people alive."
Sarandos has since deleted his Twitter account, the Journal Sentinel reported.
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Former Vice President Joe Biden also attacked Rush Limbaugh during a Wednesday town hall in response to the radio host's award from President Trump earlier this week.
Democratic presidential candidate Biden blasted Limbaugh, saying he doesn't deserve the Medal of Freedom award from President Trump because he doesn't "understand the American code of decency and honor."
Biden also criticized President Trump's motives for awarding Limbaugh with the medal at his State of the Union address on Tuesday night.
Limbaugh, 69, is known to be a friend of the president and was seated in the gallery next to First Lady Melania Trump, who presented him with the award during the SOTU speech.
On his nationally syndicated talk radio show, Limbaugh announced Monday that he has been diagnosed with advanced-stage lung cancer.
“So, I have to tell you something today that I wish I didn’t have to tell you,” Limbaugh said during the live broadcast. "...I have been diagnosed with advanced lung cancer.”
