SAN DIEGO (KGTV) -- A San Diego State University professor is stirring controversy over a recent Facebook post about John McCain.
Professor of political science Jonathan Graubart posted "I find myself annoyed at the groundswell of good wishes for John McCain after his diagnosis of glioblastoma and have been thinking through why."
Graubart goes on to call McCain "a war criminal" and said "ultimately what troubles me is the urge to send such well wishes to an utter stranger as it reinforces the notion that some lives are more important than others."
“I would never wish cancer upon my worst enemy and then to be annoyed by people just wishing you the best for having cancer, I just thought it was totally inappropriate,” student Ben Dilbeck said.
The post was read around the world. Former SDSU student Colby Tunick read it while in Prague.
“I think I was a little disturbed to be quite honest,” Tunick said. "You may disagree with someone politically, morally, philosophically, but you don’t wish someone harm.”
Tunick said this kind of behavior doesn't surprise him based on what he observed in Graubart's classes.
“He has told me that he thinks it’s his job as an academic to stir controversy and he normally does that through Facebook," Tunick said.
Other people defended Graubart's freedom of speech, describing him as a man of integrity and intelligence.
In a statement, a San Diego State University spokesperson said:
"SDSU does not have a social media policy for faculty and staff. As a public institution, we do not and cannot regulate the private speech of students, faculty or staff. However, that should not imply the university's endorsement of any particular viewpoint."
Graubart did not return 10News' requests for comment.
