John McCain’s disability pay: Raise your hands if you object
posted at 5:57 pm on April 22, 2008 by Ed Morrissey
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Go ahead, raise your hands above your head if you object to John McCain’s disability pension. John McCain can’t do the same, thanks to the damage inflicted by Vietnamese torturers in Hanoi. He has constant pain in his knee and his back as well, significantly limiting his mobility. However, unless the Presidency requires a successful completion of an obstacle course every day, the Los Angeles Times’ questioning of his physical fitness for office seems ludicrous:
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.”
McCain campaign strategist Mark Salter said Monday night that McCain was technically disabled. “Tortured for his country — that is how he acquired his disability,” Salter said.
Certain types of military and veterans pensions are either partially or completely tax-exempt, depending on the seriousness of the disability. In McCain’s case, the exemption is 100%.
The LAT seems a little confused about this disability. Ralph Vartabedian doesn’t seem to know whether to complain about McCain having a 100% disability even though he can still walk, muse over its tax-free status, or suggest that a disabled man cannot handle the Presidency. As a result, the article meanders through all three issues and never really reaches a conclusion.
Let’s try addressing all three:
- The 100% disability from the military doesn’t mean that the person cannot work any longer at all, although in some cases it’s certainly true. It comes from a medical calculation of mobility and loss, handled by the Department of Defense. POWs who had been tortured certainly would have received a generous evaluation.
- The tax status of his disability pay is a rather stupid topic. He’s obviously not dodging his tax responsibilities. If the exemption exists, what’s newsworthy about it?
- Vartabedian might want to look back in history to another President with much more profound disabilities to determine whether McCain can fulfill his duties. FDR served three full terms and part of a fourth, mostly confined to a wheelchair, and he all but won a two-front world war.
Next foolish meme, please?
Update: Michael Koolidge interviewed McCain’s fellow POW, Joe Crecca, on the kind of torture and abuse received by McCain, Crecca, and others in Hanoi. Take a listen to all three podcasts to discover why McCain has this disability pension.
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The MSM will go from complaining about VA hospitals to attacking McCain over this.
RobCon on April 22, 2008 at 6:05 PM
wouldnt taft be considered disabled due to his girth well at least today he would .
and yet the LAslimes never mentions anything about nobamas disability with the common small town Americans and hilldabeast disability with the truth .
Mojack420 on April 22, 2008 at 6:06 PM
But remember, they support the Troops, and don’t you DARE question their patriotism.
UncleOlaf on April 22, 2008 at 6:06 PM
im so sick of newspapers and their obvious bias…my boss just told me the NYT was the best most unbiased paper on the planet….oh he is also a troofer….just goes to show that no matter how smart you are you will always believe what you want to believe no matter what evidence is presented
SoCalInfidel on April 22, 2008 at 6:07 PM
And weren’t liberals super keen on creating the FDR memorial statue as a depiction him in a wheel chair, even though he was never portrayed that way in public?
scatbug on April 22, 2008 at 6:07 PM
Let’s not forget Jack Kennedy, who was drugged out the gills his whole Presidency due to his back.
bikermailman on April 22, 2008 at 6:08 PM
I guess the LA Times would have outed FDR as a miserable cripple.
tmitsss on April 22, 2008 at 6:09 PM
scatbug on April 22, 2008 at 6:07 PM
He specifically didn’t want to be seen that way in public. Also, my mom told me that the family didn’t want the statue done that way when the memorial was being planned, due to FDR’s stance on the matter.
bikermailman on April 22, 2008 at 6:10 PM
Of course not.. he was a Democrat after all.
UncleOlaf on April 22, 2008 at 6:12 PM
I smell desperation.
SouthernGent on April 22, 2008 at 6:12 PM
A credible reporter would do a little research on Service Connected Disability before casting aspersions on a Disabled Veteran. But the key word in that sentence is ‘credible’.
ReubenJCogburn on April 22, 2008 at 6:13 PM
That is just what I was thinking Southern Gent !
robo on April 22, 2008 at 6:15 PM
That’s exactly right. And of course they also left out the trade mark cigarette.
scatbug on April 22, 2008 at 6:15 PM
I hope they spend some money making another lead-sinker ad about it.
RushBaby on April 22, 2008 at 6:16 PM
Get used to it.
This is mild for what’s in store for the rest of the campaign season.
btw, where’s the outrage about Hillary’s horrible temper?
BobH on April 22, 2008 at 6:17 PM
- He’s got a temper
- He married a sugar-mommy
- He has some money, the older bastard
- He’s too old
- He has a tax exemption from his disability check
What’s next?
- He calls us “my friends”
- He’s friendly with Hillary
- He’s open to the press
- He’s friends with John Kerry
- He’s on speaking terms with the Kennedys
- He had lunch with Schwarzenegger, and a Shriver was present
- He’s asking for a civilized debate
- He’s shorter than Obama
- His wife is more restrained than Michelle
- He’s got a Black kid
- He hangs out with Joe Lieberman
- He’s guarding his temper now
- He kisses up to the righties
- He doesn’t kiss up to the righties
- He still breathes
Entelechy on April 22, 2008 at 6:18 PM
Thanks Ed, beautiful prose. Short, to the point, and dead on.
second digit on April 22, 2008 at 6:19 PM
Knew it was coming…just didn’t expect it this early. Honestly, what CAN the Left use to try to take down McCain? His ability to work with Dem’s?
It’s gonna be low-blows and desperate measures from here on in.
JetBoy on April 22, 2008 at 6:19 PM
Yeah, that will go far, the statement “Tortured for his country — that is how he acquired his disability,” pretty much means this will never be brought up in a debate.
Now he has to sit through the tortured logic of a liberal trying to defeat him…double pay for McCain.
right2bright on April 22, 2008 at 6:20 PM
I love it when they try to go after anything related to McCain’s POW status. They can’t win there, and the more they bring it up, the more independents are made aware of his sacrifice, patriotism, and personal strength (in stark contrast to a lack of all those qualities by the Dem candidates). I don’t particularly like McCain, but every time I’m reminded of his courage and sacrifice as a POW, I get a lump in my throat–I can’t help but respect him for that part of his biography. So, yeah–let’s talk some more about how McCain earned that $58,000 a year, LAT.
aero on April 22, 2008 at 6:22 PM
I don’t like McCain. He earned his disability pay, though.
Let it be.
JellyToast on April 22, 2008 at 6:24 PM
Why has John Kennedy’s name been changed? Not picking on bikermailman, but everyone calls him Jack now. When did that start?
R D on April 22, 2008 at 6:27 PM
McCain is younger then Reagan was when he was re-elected in 1984..(February 6, 1911)
McCain can walk FDR couldn’t
Chakra Hammer on April 22, 2008 at 6:28 PM
This was another pointless article written by a stereotypical MSM reporter that has no clue how the military works.
Like how Stephenopolous asked McCain that since active duty military personnel get free healthcare, why can’t everyone?
SPCOlympics on April 22, 2008 at 6:28 PM
Somebody tell me how this guy isn’t embarrassed to write this stuff.
A disability pension is given based on the disability - not the person’s strength or eventual earning capacity. For example,
1. If a blinded veteran learns to make $$$ millions by composing music he doesn’t lose the payments.
2. If a blinded veteran claims he is strong enough to hike the Grand Canyon he doesn’t lose the payments.
How can a journalist NOT be embarrassed by glaring logical holes in their articles?
blink on April 22, 2008 at 6:31 PM
Chronic pain, he should try a little bit of that there medical marijuana and then legalize it for the rest of us.
muyoso on April 22, 2008 at 6:31 PM
Not to mention the medications he took to control his Addison’s disease (the steroids made his face look puffy and ruddy, which ironically helped give the impression to the public that he was a lot healthier than he really was).
But JFK was a Democrat, so I guess his serious health problems don’t really count. Apparently only Republicans need to be in perfect health to survive the presidency.
AZCoyote on April 22, 2008 at 6:33 PM
What’s the point of this story? I’m stumped.
This isn’t a Tom Clancy novel where the President personally shoots terrorists and beats up the bad guy.
Is there any evidence that McCain cannot physically perform the functions/duties of the Presidency? If so, let’s hear about them. If not, stuff it.
SteveMG on April 22, 2008 at 6:34 PM
Did they mention his charitable contributions? He may be turning that money right around into a local Boys and Girls Club. Ya just never know and it’s all in how you spin it.
RFA on April 22, 2008 at 6:37 PM
I think Americans are going to find these types of attack angles more offensive then the contrived racism the MSM is going to uncover in every anti-Obama ad.
p0s3r on April 22, 2008 at 6:38 PM
Maybe they would have been happy if he had polio.
hadsil on April 22, 2008 at 6:39 PM
For those who aren’t familiar with the system, that $58K will be based on 100% (his level of Service Connected Disability) of his base pay at the point that he left the Navy in 1981.
ReubenJCogburn on April 22, 2008 at 6:40 PM
John McCain began donating to charity the increase in his Senate salary from the baseline of 1991 because he did not believe the Senate needed an increase. A cumulative amount of $450,000 or about $28,000/year. That’s pretty admirable.
I think it bothers the left to see a Vietnam vet be successful and not homeless.
MayBee on April 22, 2008 at 6:43 PM
LOL, do they know he probably has a property tax exemption, too?
Dusty on April 22, 2008 at 6:48 PM
If I’m not mistaken, Pres. Kennedy’s back injury was from a WWII war wound, It wouldn’t suprise me if he recieved disability also, as he deserved to. This will blow up in the LA Times face, I just wish it would take their head off when it blows
Ltmousseman on April 22, 2008 at 6:48 PM
Those moonbats always keep in classy! Bitching about a POW’s compensation is beneath contempt…..the LAT’s leadership knows it and they don’t care.
David in ATL on April 22, 2008 at 6:49 PM
Many of these stories are “probe” stories. Set out to measure the reaction of the public. When they find an issue that sticks, they will shelve it and bring it out at a good time. Let’s say this resonants with the public (it won’t), so they bring it out near memorial day and make a big splash, or they wait for some medical military abuse (or create one) and tag this story. Or they get a set up question in a debate (Reagan and the age issue, a classic).
If it dies, then a new one pops up next week, we will see hundreds of these probing for a weakness in McCain. Their (DNC) internal polling is measuring every response to every “leaked” story. Building a portfolio of issues to dump in a manner of one building on the other. It will be a PowerPoint presentation of issues over several months, but being prepared now.
right2bright on April 22, 2008 at 6:49 PM
Raise your hand if you thought that anybody would raise their hands because they objected to John McCain’s disability pension.
No one is raising their hands either.
Seriously, why even ask the question when it’s clear no one would object to the disability pention? It sounds like more like Guiliani saying 9/11 in every other sentence.
How about people raising their hands if they made fun of Kerry’s Purple Hearts?
mycowardice on April 22, 2008 at 6:55 PM
Makes perfect sense. Nice explanation.
RushBaby on April 22, 2008 at 6:55 PM
We who are retired through length of Service and drawing retired pay receive no additional monies for our disabilities. Rather, a percentage of our retired pay equal to the percentage of our disability is exempt from federal taxes. That is the procedure for all retired military including McCain. Anyone that doesn’t believe John McCain deserves this small pittance for his great pain and suffering can go straight to hell.
rplat on April 22, 2008 at 6:56 PM
Look over here, my hand is raised. I made fun of the one he applied for as a result of some rice kernels embedded in his sit-upon.
RushBaby on April 22, 2008 at 6:56 PM
No one has ever “made fun” of the Purple Heart . . . only the way Kerry came to have them. Kerry went to Vietnam for 4 short months, mined for medals and then went home and trashed his comrades in arms. The man is despicable.
rplat on April 22, 2008 at 7:02 PM
He’s using a technique called sarcasm.
Perhaps you were ill that day in first grade English where it was discussed.
SteveMG on April 22, 2008 at 7:05 PM
I like the “4 short months” comment.
It seems to me a few people didn’t even want to be there for “4 short months”.
Maybe some Vietnam veterans can comment, but somehow I’m surprised 4 months in Vietnam would be considered “4 short months”.
mycowardice on April 22, 2008 at 7:12 PM
Ah-men brother. One gets Purple Hearts from wounds not injuries and anyone claiming otherwise is a poser.
easy on April 22, 2008 at 7:14 PM
I’ll raise my hand.. it’s not an issue that he qualifies for disability payments or that they’re tax free, but why he’s receiving it while he’s got a paying job above a certain pay threshold.. it’s not like he needs the money, isn’t there some sort of mechanism to check wealth status before handing out government pension of any kind.. i bet McCain would be the first person to give up that pension to someone who needs it more than him, but at the moment it looks a lot like government waste..
Hustla on April 22, 2008 at 7:16 PM
If only Mac had sustained his injuries while drinking a cup of coffee from McDonalds, and had someone like John Edwards represent him in a lawsuit, he’d be a real hero in their eyes and it would not be a pittance either.
Buy Danish on April 22, 2008 at 7:17 PM
Clearly he shouldn’t be getting disability pay like anybody else who has the money. Going after him for it now, however, is petty and disgusting.
freevillage on April 22, 2008 at 7:17 PM
A tour was a year, for the Army, and was served by 99% of those who answered the call.
easy on April 22, 2008 at 7:18 PM
Why not? Did he earn it or not? Do you think you deserve some of it?
Buy Danish on April 22, 2008 at 7:20 PM
I’m more concerned about his 4 (yes four) bouts with melanoma.
Valiant on April 22, 2008 at 7:24 PM
I’m not sure how that is related to what I said. Are you also saying that 4 months in Vietname is ‘4 short months’?
mycowardice on April 22, 2008 at 7:24 PM
Well said. This kind of stuff can only help McCain. Amazingly, there seem to be many Americans who aren’t aware of his Navy/POW service. When the left does mention it, they often say something like, “being tortured does not qualify a person to be President.” Of course, that misses the larger point, not news to anyone here, that McCain declined early release from confinement and torture because of allegiance to a higher code and to his brothers in arms. I have become convinced that living for a purpose greater than oneself is pretty much the definition of virtue, and also the key to a good and happy life.
I just finished Faith of My Fathers, which I recommend highly.
mikeyboss on April 22, 2008 at 7:29 PM
I don’t think he should be taking the money. Of course he is entitled to it due to his service, but he should turn it down due to his status. Of course maybe he needed something to fill the void from his Keating money.
LevStrauss on April 22, 2008 at 7:30 PM
Uhm, well… no. I mean, government assistance should be directed to those truly in need. I mean it’s like asking me if I have earned Medicaid. I might have worked more than some currently on the program. But I make enough on my own, so I shouldn’t be paid by the taxpayers.
freevillage on April 22, 2008 at 7:34 PM
This is like complaining about someone using a handicapped parking space because you don’t see a wheelchair. A lot of people live with pain that they will never let you see.
Connie on April 22, 2008 at 7:36 PM
No, he may very well be in pain. I think he does have some medical problems. No question about that. It’s just that he doesn’t need that money.
freevillage on April 22, 2008 at 7:38 PM
You are dangerously close to being labelled a communist :).
mycowardice on April 22, 2008 at 7:38 PM
rplat on April 22, 2008 at 7:43 PM
It’s just a case of whether its honorable to take the money. I don’t think so. It also seems to be the difference between old and new money. Old money seems to be more greedy while new money always seems to be more generous. Old money never knew what is was like to struggle financially so they don’t understand why some people would take offense to it. If I was ever as rich as him, no matter what I did to earn the money, no way in hell would I take it. I feel the same way for Presidential pensions. The Clintons have tons of money and so do the Bushes. If you are ridiculously rich as President you shouldn’t take the salary either.
LevStrauss on April 22, 2008 at 7:43 PM
Government assistance? You make it sound like its a welfare check.
Who is it in your village that gets to decide who is “truly in need”? What’s the threshold number you think should be used?
Buy Danish on April 22, 2008 at 7:44 PM
Sorry, I screwed up the quotation . . . for clarity I’ll try it again.
The normal tour was 12 months. I and most of my contemporaries were there for 24 months or more. Kerry skated out after 4 months and to me that’s “4 short months”.
rplat on April 22, 2008 at 7:45 PM
Apparently in some parts of the country men named John are sometimes called Jack. Kennedy was called Jack by his friends and family from the time he was a kid. Just a regional/cultural thing.
JonRoss on April 22, 2008 at 7:47 PM
I’d start with calling me a black racist.
freevillage on April 22, 2008 at 7:47 PM
It is.
freevillage on April 22, 2008 at 7:48 PM
You gotta love the above. If it were coming from a conservative, I’d say the person might have a point if they thought McCain didn’t deserve the money. But the comment comes from a resident liberal, and liberals tend to give away money to rich people who don’t deserve it or need it all the time (what was Hillary and Bill’s extra earnings this year?). At least McCain gets his stipend for honorable service to his country, unlike his competitors.
unclesmrgol on April 22, 2008 at 7:54 PM
I was never in the military. My son is though. Anyone who begrudges McCain’s disability pay in any way, especially after everything he went through, are beyond my contempt. Men who endured what he did deserve vastly more than they are now receiving regardless of what other resources they have. It is the very least we can do for them.
JonRoss on April 22, 2008 at 7:57 PM
OMG, he’s disabled!!! Maybe he can’t be a good President of the United States!!!
What about Franklin Roosevelt? Didn’t he have Polio? Wasn’t he what people called “disabled? Wasn’t he a perfectly fine President despite his disability?
Is thinking really THAT hard for news reporters?
mjk on April 22, 2008 at 7:58 PM
Why has John Kennedy’s name been changed? Not picking on bikermailman, but everyone calls him Jack now. When did that start?
He was called Jack by his family and known as Jack to most everyone, including the electorate before he was assassinated. Jack is a standard nickname for John.
Pal2Pal on April 22, 2008 at 7:58 PM
That really grates on my ears, especially when used in connection to his favorite vegetable, lettuce, as in “You can’t do it, my friends”.
Every time he says, “My Friends”, I just know he is up to no good again and it is time to hide the women and the booze.
MB4 on April 22, 2008 at 8:07 PM
Why don’t you discuss a subject about which you know? This one isn’t it.
baldilocks on April 22, 2008 at 8:08 PM
That’s right villager. There’s no difference between serving one’s country in Vietnam and spending years in the Hanoi Hilton as a prisoner of war, and collecting a check for doing nothing and living in a welfare hotel.
As for giving the money back, it would be a symbolic gesture, at best. No doubt the McCain’s give more than their fair share in taxes already, and presumably their charitable donations are generous.
Buy Danish on April 22, 2008 at 8:12 PM
You must be talking about career Army and multiple tours? Draftees and one time enlistees were not in long enough (2 years, 3 years) to have multiple tours.
MB4 on April 22, 2008 at 8:16 PM
Hustla,
“it’s not like he needs the money, isn’t there some sort of mechanism to check wealth status before handing out government pension of any kind”
The pension is based on what he did in the military, not on how well he is doing after leaving the military. If a retired person wins the lottery, should their 401K be taken away from them?
exhelodrvr on April 22, 2008 at 8:17 PM
No, but their 401k should probably be under a custodian as most people who buy enough lotto tickets to win the lottery are probably not very good at handling money. It would be for their own good.
MB4 on April 22, 2008 at 8:23 PM
This is beyond the pale. The LAT has it so wrong on so many levels, it again proves the lack of fact checking.
A ‘disability pension’ is not the same as ‘disability compensation.’ There is such a vast difference between the two programs administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs.
‘Disability Pension’ also known as ‘Non-Service Connected Pension’ is a monthly payment, made to veterans who served honorably during a period of war, who have not sustained a disability or disease related to service, but because of said malady, they cannot work any longer. This program is subject to total household income, minus un-reimbursed medical expenses, and is offset by payments made by Social Security.
‘Disability Compensation’, also known as ‘Service Connected Disability Compensation’, is a monthly payment administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs, for disabilities or disease incurred during active military service, and the range of service connected compensation ranges from 0% through 100%, depending on the number of disabilities, and the severity of said disabilities, and is NOT based income.
A vast difference.
As a national service officer for the last 14 years with a national veterans service organization advocating for veterans, the LAT article is disingenuous at the least, dishonest at most. It is a disgusting and intellectually corrupt article.
Gothguy on April 22, 2008 at 8:27 PM
I live in the Sacramento area, and we have been innundated by negative campaigning by Doug Osse(Sp?). He must be spending millions of dollars to defeat another Republican, saying, in effect, that he is skimming money from California.
Anyway, the point. Negative campaign advertising produces negative attitudes in the people who hear them–against the ones running the ads.
TimothyJ on April 22, 2008 at 8:27 PM
So, do Veterans get stiffed by the gov’t, or not?
The MSM wants it both ways.
franksalterego on April 22, 2008 at 8:29 PM
So as a service connected disabled vet I too must be unqualified to be President. How many other people with disabilities, no matter how obtained, would be disqualified because of this? Couple million or more would be my guess. Gee, can anyone say discrimination? I think Title VII and the Vietnam Era Veteran’s Readjustment Act of 1974 apply. The EEOC also applies to the federal sector as described in the ruling described here: http://www.justice.gov/olc/eeova.htm.
Not a lawyer… just happen to be working towards my Masters and currently studying HR Law. McCain should have his folks attack the discrimination angle of this.
Paladium on April 22, 2008 at 8:31 PM
Some people think LAT staffers are hippie buffoons; I think they are evil.
PattyJ on April 22, 2008 at 8:35 PM
Is military disability in a different status from Social Security disability? Social Security disability is taxed if your total annual income is above $25,000.
windybon on April 22, 2008 at 8:40 PM
Gothguy nailed it.
McCain served for more than 20 years in the military, hence, he’s eligible for retirement pay.
The disability compensation is an assessment of the various service-related permanent injuries, disabilities, or conditions an individual may have, and then using pro-rated percentages, a determination is made as to how much of the retirement pay is tax exempt.
So, to begrudge McCain for the tax exemption - very, very low class, in that it not only insults McCain’s service to earn it, but belittles all of the other veterans out there that also are accorded this deference - because, they too earned it.
Wind Rider on April 22, 2008 at 8:45 PM
Yes please, let’s have more liberal attacks criticizing McCain for his military disability pension. It’s a nice follow-up to the lefty moron who made fun of his teeth. Maybe next Soros could fund an ad criticizing McCain for how environmentally insensitive his fighter jet was. McCain could respond by saying he’d flip them off, if only he could raise his arm that high. Somebody ought to direct these clowns to the tale of the Newburgh Conspiracy. Heck, I’ll do it for free:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newburgh_conspiracy
Stay classy, liberals.
Doctor Zero on April 22, 2008 at 8:49 PM
Shameless. Partisan. Hacks.
Rational Thought on April 22, 2008 at 8:50 PM
Some people think LAT staffers are hippie buffoons; I think they are evil.
What about evil hippie buffoons? I just prefer the term “liberal” which sums them up nice and neat.
Bishop on April 22, 2008 at 8:52 PM
Wow, its amazing the amount of people willing to make totaly unqualified silly opinions known…
McCain served for more than 20 years, and “retired”, or, more accurately, tranfered to the inactive fleet reserve. He was thus paid a “retainer” until he reached his 30th year of service… and then was classified as retired.
When you “retire”, a medical board decides if you are partialy or fully disabled from service related injuries. Depending on the % of disability they state… that amount of your retirement pay is then NOT taxable income.
To go after him for this, after he sustained injuries in the service of his country, is dispicable.
Romeo13 on April 22, 2008 at 8:59 PM
This is low even by left standards, so is calling Veteran’s disability welfare. Screw it, let’s have no pensions, we all work until we drop dead, won’t affect McCain because that appears what he is going to do anyway.
Typical Dimocratic logic, the government can take much better care of your money better than you can.
Hog Wild on April 22, 2008 at 9:06 PM
You used the wrong “E” word. The village idiots only understand entitlement earned is completely foreign.
jdkchem on April 22, 2008 at 9:10 PM
MB4 on April 22, 2008 at 8:16 PM
Amazing. Can’t even talk about Maverick without the lettuce picking, Juan McStrawberries schtick in the midst of a disgraceful assault by the lefty print press about his torture pension.
THE CHOSEN ONE on April 22, 2008 at 9:17 PM
wow so the MSM is against torture unless the torture was done to a republican, American. what??
custer on April 22, 2008 at 9:24 PM
Wow, its amazing the amount of people willing to make totaly unqualified silly opinions known…
McCain served for more than 20 years, and “retired”, or, more accurately, tranfered to the inactive fleet reserve. He was thus paid a “retainer” until he reached his 30th year of service… and then was classified as retired.
What he said. My husband will be somewhat disabled upon retirement because of blown knees. Please don’t tell me “conservatives” are gonna bitch because a percentage of his military retirement pension income is going to be federal income tax free.
I thought conservatives wanted deserving people to keep more of their income.
funky chicken on April 22, 2008 at 9:24 PM
We owe McCain and our other heros more that we can pay. $58K is a pittance.
Thank you, Mr. McCain.
davidk on April 22, 2008 at 9:27 PM
It’s not workmen’s comp. It’s military pension. All military people can retire after 20 years of service. They are allowed to collect their military retirement pay regardless of other employment.
If you are disabled upon retirement a percentage of your military pension will be income tax free.
McCain didn’t go down to the social security office and apply for this money. Learn about a topic before you comment on it, and you won’t look so foolish next time.
funky chicken on April 22, 2008 at 9:28 PM
Thank you.
davidk on April 22, 2008 at 9:30 PM
Thank You JonRoss.
R D on April 22, 2008 at 9:32 PM
Yes, very well said Ed. It’s good having you here at Hot Air.
As for the disability pay, tax free, I say double it. He earned it as do all who serve to preserve our country.
I will not vote for him but he has earned our respect and gratitude. He has mine.
Zorro on April 22, 2008 at 9:34 PM
Military retirement pay = welfare check. Can we get a full page ad in the NY Times making that argument?
I assume then that those pensions that the UAW fights for are also welfare checks?
How about public school teacher pensions checks?
I actually would agree that former congressmen and senators don’t deserve pensions, and I’d be happy to call that welfare for the wealthy.
But military retirment pensions? Yeah, that’s gonna be a popular platform. I hope Obama picks up on this offensive use of government money by McCain.
funky chicken on April 22, 2008 at 9:39 PM
It is disgusting that the liberal MSM would bring this up. McCain has every right to collect disability pension.
jdun on April 22, 2008 at 9:40 PM
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