McCain Disability Pension Raises Questions About Health

LA Times:

Sen. John McCain has long said he is in robust health and is strong enough to hike the Grand Canyon, but he also is receiving what his staff Monday termed a "disability pension" from the Navy.

When McCain released his tax return for 2007 on Friday, he separately disclosed that he received a pension of $58,358 that was not listed as income on his return.

On Monday, McCain's staff identified the retirement benefit as a "disability pension" and said that McCain "was retired as disabled because of his limited body movements due to injuries as a POW."

Read the whole story: LA Times

Comments

[Colmore]

I thought the VA had regular examinations of people on disability, checking for improvements? Since he is able to work (if you can call it that) in Washington, he should give up his pension. Disabled means "unable to work" doesn't it? Here we go again, another rich welfare recipient. No wonder the Bush family likes this guy, they all managed to get government bailouts, too. McCain was a prisoner for 6 years. For the rest of his 66 years, he has been getting free medical care, at taxpayer expense, plus his wife is a multi millionaire. How much do these greedy [eople need? He is "Johhny on the spot" when it comes to denying the young servicepeople anything they are due, though. If he is disabled to the tune of almost $60,000.00 a year, the presidency is no job for him. We have suffered for 7 years under a mentally disabled guy, that is almost enough to finish the US off.

[HowietheScreamer]

You thought WRONG then.

I hate Johnny McStain, but THIS is a NON issue. EVER person discharged from the military gets a disability rating from the VA, it might be ZERO, but EVERY vet has one. If you are disabled more than 30% while on Active duty you are medically retired. If that person is >30% the VA also pays for dependants as well. It's the law.

Amazing how people get so bent out of shape for NOTHING, which THIS ISSUE IS. He's got plenty of other things to bash him on... the 21st century GI bill coming immediately to mind in this vein.

[Colmore]

Check YOUR FACTS. My late husband was encouraged by the family doctor to go for disability, due to injuries he suffered in Korea. He checked with the VA. He would have to take time off work and spend two days in the VA hospital being examined. This would be a recurring event, he was told. He decided he would rather WORK since he was able to, and that is what he did, until he died. McCain on the other hand, is a taker, even though he has millions, it never seems to be enough for these greedy people.

[Gary47]

This is ridiculous. How is he "disabled" and gets 50K annually in disability payments tax free, while after his physical rehabilitation he was able to fly a Navy fighter again? This is nonsense. I say we find every veteran with worse injuries that is not getting anywhere near a comparable pension (and I bet there are thousands of them) and play them in campaign ads over and over and over again until November. This is an elitist of the worst kind.

And if wants to keep claiming he can walk across the Grand Canyon, then let's suggest he donate the pension to charity (and don't claim it as a tax deduction since it's already tax free).

[tompoe]

Actually, there are millions of veterans worse off. Ohio disability benefits average $7,556; benefits in New Mexico, the top-ranked state, average $12,395. It's an ongoing, filled with horror stories, serious issue. McCain could be accused of "milking" the system, since it is glaringly obvious that he used his position of power to maximize his benefits. Did he do so at the expense of those veterans who could not, and cannot speak up, or died fighting for their benefits? Maybe.
‘There was an effort to increase the budget for veterans’ health care beyond what President [George W.] Bush had requested as part of his budget,’ DAV spokesperson Dave Autry told IPS. ‘The idea was to increase funding for veterans’ health care by cutting back on tax breaks for the wealthy. The proposals were pushed by Democrats and opposed by Republicans in almost straight party-line votes.’

McCain’s vote also helped defeat a proposal by Democratic Senator Debbie Stabenow that would have made veterans’ health care an entitlement programme like social security, so that medical care would not become a political football to be argued over in Congress each budget cycle.
This quote from
http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2008/04/09/8186/

[greylox]

**Isn't this the same guy who wants social security benefits cut to those who have more money?

[bdl0715]

Disabled usually means you can not work. If he is earning a nice salary as a Senator, how can he still be getting disability?

[MRb1000]

I DO NOT LIKE JOHN MCINSANE, BUT THIS IS OWE TO HIM BY THE GOVERNMENT AS PROMISE!! THIS IS GIVE TO HIM BECAUSE HE LOSS A LOT. MOST PEOPLE DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY PEOPLE IN THE MILITARY GET THIS DISABLE PAY. WE ARE ON DUTY 24 HOURS A DAY. WE HAVE A LOT OF STRESS AND UNDER MUCH MORE DANGER THAN MOST. SO YOU DO THE MATH.

[StephenWilliams]

How about I do the English and YOU do the math?

[OliviaRee]

I don't begrudge the Senator his pension. He served this country honorably. What does concern me greatly is McCain's psychological health. I suspect he suffers from UNTREATED combat PTSD.
The signs are there. This condition only worsens with age if not treated.
His reluctance to release his medical records is troubling.
The voters have a right to review these records, including those from the V.A. a.s.a.p.

[Gary47]

Of course you should begrudge him his pension. Hello. If you or I got rehabilitated so that we could perform the same job again (which happened in his case - read the story), then we would get zero pension. So should he. Without question. Stop making excuses for him just because he was a POW.

[MRb1000]

YOU ARE RIGHT!! HEY LOOK AT HIS ANGER PROBLEMS.

[dutchess2]

I don't begrudge him the pension...

But it does seem to me that it automatically disqualifies him for the most demanding job
in the world...


A tired, sick old man who can't get his positions straight enough to state them the same in
two sentences one after another.

Dija catch his comments on Hagee yesterday?

Regrets he asked for Hagee's endorsement, but he's glad he got it????

[BethStuart]

Let me see if I understand this. He's 100% disabled and he's running for one of the most demanding jobs in the world. Perhaps he can recuperate between now and November.