People Online Rejoice over Rush Limbaugh’s Cancer Diagnosis

Social media brings out the worst in people: example 7,952,901. 

Today, 69 year old Rush Limbaugh told his 20 million listeners that he has “advanced lung cancer.”  The radio entertainer/provocateur is a pioneer in talk radio, because he passionately articulated many “politically incorrect” positions with gusto – invigorating conservatives who otherwise felt their opinions and values were not represented in the media.

“This day has been one of the most difficult days in recent memory, for me, because I’ve known this moment was coming,” he said. “I’m sure that you all know by now that I really don’t like talking about myself and I don’t like making things about me… one thing that I know, that has happened over the 31-plus years of this program is that there has been an incredible bond that had developed between all of you and me.”

Listen to his announcement here:

Here's the audio of Rush Limbaugh announcing on his show that he has lung cancer. pic.twitter.com/V60pAOpf68

— Julio Rosas (@Julio_Rosas11) February 3, 2020

As soon as he announced this horrific diagnosis, people online began being awful.  Here is just a taste, collected by The Blaze so you don’t have to go onto Twitter:

“He, literally, has encouraged right-wing politicians to harm people, deprive healthcare, imprison innocent children, and let people die. Lives will be saved when he is gone.”

“Couldn’t have happened to a better person. I guess since he is a cancer to society, life is imitating art here.”

“Karma.”

“God works in mysterious ways.”

“Such a painful disease. The suffering he will experience. The anguish of facing death after his despicable life will be a burden so heavy, it will destroy his soul.”

“I’m sorry anyone has cancer. I won’t be sorry to have someone who lies off the airwaves.”

“‘I’ve never wished a man dead, but I have read some obituaries with great pleasure.’ Your time has come you vicious racist POS.”

“Does that mean he will stop spreading hatred towards minorities from now on? Then that’s OK.”

“…I wish I didn’t have to laugh my ass off at this.”

“Good riddance.”

I have to believe that in their real lives, most of these folks are normal human beings that would never say this sort of stuff to someone’s face.  I hope.

I should also point out that — for every horrible tweet — there are tens of thousands (probably hundreds of thousands) of people who would never think or say such things.

Please, think before you tweet horrible aspirations and wishes on others.  This is not how we can live together in a republic where we have differing opinions on policy issues.  Even hotly debated, divisive policy issues.  

This is exactly how we tear our society apart.

Image Credit: Brett Tatman on Flickr

Hat Tip: The Blaze