Teacher Suspended For Celebrating Rush Limbaugh’s Cancer – ‘It’s Awesome He’s Dying’

A high school teacher from Milwaukee, Wisconsin has been suspended after he took to Twitter to publicly celebrate Rush Limbaugh’s stage 4 lung cancer announcement.

Teacher Celebrates Rush Limbaugh’s Cancer Diagnosis

Fox6Now reported that Travis Sarandos, a teacher at Milwaukee High School of the Arts, took to Twitter to say that he was “glad” political radio host Rush Limbaugh had been diagnosed with cancer.

“Rush Limbaugh absolutely should have to suffer from cancer,” Sarandos tweeted to his 1,323 followers. “It’s awesome that he’s dying, and hopefully, it is as quick as it is painful.”

Milwaukee Alderman Bob Donovan called for action to be taken against the teacher, saying that Sarandos “has no business in an MPS system classroom.”

“It’s so disappointing, and as far as I’m concerned, he needs to go,” Alderman Donovan said. “This kind of hatred has no role to play in people who are teaching our kids. It’s there. It’s out there, and you can’t hide. I just think it’s terrible.”

Milwaukee Alderman’s Full Statement

Alderman Donovan went on to say that Sarandos had also posted additional tweets that were derogatory towards Christians. Here is Donovan’s full statement:

The Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) system makes much of the importance of inclusion, tolerance, diversity, and mutual respect. How, then, can it countenance the remarks made by Travis Sarandos, a teacher at the Milwaukee School of the Arts, via his Twitter account?”

“Shortly after political commentator Rush Limbaugh told his listeners he had been diagnosed with advanced lung cancer, Mr. Sarandos took to Twitter and told his 1,323 followers he was glad. “(R)ush limbaugh absolutely should have to suffer from cancer,” he wrote in a post as lacking in proper English usage as it is in tact. “(I)t’s awesome that he’s dying, and hopefully it is as quick as it is painful.”

“Not content to confine his rage to pundits, Mr. Sarandos earlier despaired for our collective future absent the extinction — the extinction, mind you — of Christian conservative voters. As a possible remedy to their presence in the voting public he suggested, “…maybe we poison the communion wine?”

“Likely realizing he had been found out by WISN radio’s Mark Belling, Mr. Sarandos, as of last evening, had taken down his Twitter page. It would be easy enough to dismiss ill-written, juvenile nonsense like this were it not for his role in teaching our City’s young people. He is supposed to be an example of the inclusive, tolerant, and respectful spirit of the Milwaukee Public schools. He is clearly nothing of the sort. And he did not make his remarks in private. He made them on one of the most public of platforms where any of his students could easily have seen them.”

“In a referendum question on the Spring ballot, the MPS system will shortly be asking all Milwaukee residents to raise their taxes for its benefit. Its representatives must surely know that one of the questions many have about approving this referendum is whether the system will be good stewards of the money provided. If the MPS system is aware of Mr. Sarandos’ statements and has taken no corrective action, it is hard to make the case that it has its own house in order.”

“Mr. Sarandos’ remarks deserve discipline. In the meanwhile, he has no business in an MPS system classroom.”

MPS Responds

A spokesman for the MPS then released the following response:

“We are aware of Mr. Sarandos’ actions and can confirm that he was not speaking on behalf of any students or staff of Milwaukee High School of the Arts or Milwaukee Public Schools. The district is following policy and procedures related to personnel matters. Mr. Sarandos has been placed on leave pending further investigation.”

When asked for a comment on the situation, Sarandos said, “I regret the statements. It was meant as a joke, but it was in very poor taste. I do not have any further comment.”

Sarandos was placed on administrative leave after his tweet.

Some folks pushed for more than just leave:

The way liberals have celebrated Limbaugh’s cancer diagnosis is absolutely disgraceful. We’re glad that at least one of them is being punished accordingly.

James Conrad

James Conrad’s passion for politics is only overshadowed by his longstanding interest in Hollywood. His unique perspective as a gay conservative fuels him to challenge celebrity views and those who think they have a right to tell anyone how to think or vote. James proudly wields his minority point of view to combat identity politics and cut through his typecast. Fun fact: James’ guilty pleasure is the British royal family.