San Diego professor receives death threats after post bashing McCain

PHOENIX — A professor from San Diego has reportedly received death threats after he wrote a Facebook status bashing U.S. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.).

San Diego State University political science professor Jonathan Graubart told the San Diego Union-Tribune on Wednesday that he had received about 200 emails and nearly 20 voicemails since his post turned heads online.

“There was one that said, ‘I’m sure harm is going to come to you. You better look over your shoulder when you’re walking to your home at night,'” he told the paper. “That was the most chilling of all, and there was a number of nasty ones.”

A few days after McCain announced he had been diagnosed with brain cancer, Graubart wrote on Facebook that he did not understand the outpouring of good wishes. He said that he sees the senator as a war criminal because of the role he played in bombing missions during the Vietnam War and also bad on public health.

Graubart said his post, which he has removed, reached far more people than he intended it to after a student shared it. He said it was written partially in anger, as he felt famous people diagnosed with glioblastoma received more support than his mother, who died of the same disease 20 years ago.

He also said he would have reworded it given a second chance, particularly the bit alleging McCain was a war criminal.

Graubart said in retrospect, he should have kept out the war-criminal comment because it might lead people to think he meant McCain did not deserve sympathy because he was a pilot in Vietnam.

“On the human level, one should of course wish the best for everyone stricken with diseases, like glioblastoma, including Senator McCain,” he said.

In a statement, the school said Graubart’s views did not reflect that of the university and it respected McCain’s service.

The school also said threats made toward Graubart were being taken seriously.

McCain’s office did not reply to the Union-Tribune’s request for comment.