Left wonders, why is McCain getting 58K/year in disability pay?
posted at 8:40 pm on June 8, 2008 by Allahpundit
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Already asked and answered, but that won’t stop them from trying to gin up a scandal out of a guy bastinadoed by the North Vietnamese for five years collecting disability pay. You stay classy, lefty blogosphere.
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Damn. Be sure to sent this stuff to every military member you know.
funky chicken on June 8, 2008 at 8:42 PM
I was just going to say, “Not again?”
*sigh*
RushBaby on June 8, 2008 at 8:42 PM
McCain’s on welfare? My only surprise is that I’m surprised.
aengus on June 8, 2008 at 8:43 PM
Unlike many of them he earned his money.
TroubledMonkey on June 8, 2008 at 8:43 PM
It’s not disability pay in the sense that civilians can go down to SSI and get “disability” after a slip and fall on the job (but don’t liberals think that’s a human right?)
Anyway, it’s his military retirement pay. When you retire from active duty, the DOD decides what portion of your retirement pay will be tax free based on whether you have any service related disabilities, and the extent of those service related disabilities.
So basically, these idiots now are opposed to disabled veterans’ receiving benefits based upon injuries suffered serving the country. SUPPORT THE TROOPS, VOTE OBAMA ‘08.
I prefer “Make Kos cry, vote McCain ‘08″
funky chicken on June 8, 2008 at 8:46 PM
So now the left is concerned about “welfare” payments?
mred on June 8, 2008 at 8:50 PM
The Left has no problem with the many congressmen & senators that have become millionaires by playing the Washington quid-pro-quo (the vast majority of whom are liberals).
jgapinoy on June 8, 2008 at 8:51 PM
The Left is bringing this up again? If this is all they have on McCain they are in big… big trouble. And they are.
Maxx on June 8, 2008 at 8:51 PM
I know, right?
SouthernGent on June 8, 2008 at 8:54 PM
Numbskulls. Should we also take away Max Cleland’s pension. He seems to get around fine, can handle his employment requirements.
Limerick on June 8, 2008 at 8:56 PM
Fine. So the left are hypocrites. What else is new?
The question is what is your position on the next leader of the free world receiving government hand outs?
…and don’t give me that “Raise your hand if you oppose” nonsense. I’m not a North Vietnamese sadist. I’m just asking a question.
aengus on June 8, 2008 at 8:56 PM
First his teeth, now this! How low can you go? Come play the Kos limbo!
malan89 on June 8, 2008 at 8:58 PM
Yep, dammit, those disabled vets don’t deserve a dime if they could still do another job. Put the bums to work!
funky chicken on June 8, 2008 at 9:00 PM
He served his country and suffered these injuries for it. Why does his success later in life have any relevance when paying him for the injuries he suffered earlier in his life?
malan89 on June 8, 2008 at 9:00 PM
aengus, I assume you will be pissed off that my husband will get a lot of his military retirement pay tax free because he has had some surgeries to his back and knees while on active duty.
He will work and make good money after his military retirement. But his military retirement pay will be welfare?
funky chicken on June 8, 2008 at 9:02 PM
By your definition; every president in the history of the country has received government hand outs.
lorien1973 on June 8, 2008 at 9:03 PM
Receiving? Or accepting?
Two different questions.
SteveMG on June 8, 2008 at 9:03 PM
Allahpundit: since the Anti-American/Pro-Jihadi Leftist Delusional Democratic Traitor Leftist Nutbags (TM) despise the Military, generally don’t serve in the Military, are reflexively trained from birth to hate and despise the Military that actually guarantees their own Freedoms and Rights, are from birth, inculcated with a reflexive desire to surrender to anyone and everyone who says that “America is Evil”, who in fact believe themselves that “America is Evil”, is it really any surprise that they do this, or any of the other Anti-American/Pro-Jihadi Leftist Nutbag tricks that they actually do?
They are an entire culture of self-hate, bent upon self-societal-suicide, delusional, and who either practice, or suffer from:
Taqiyah
Mass Psychosis
Psychological Displacement
Stockholm Syndrome
Mass Cowardice
Category Error
Cognitive Dissonance
Stupdity
etc…
Dale in Atlanta on June 8, 2008 at 9:04 PM
Technically it has no relevance. Its just thats theres something disquieting and odd about a Republican Presidential candidate collecting government hand outs.
I’m not saying he doesn’t deserve it or anything its just… off-message, if you get my meaning.
aengus on June 8, 2008 at 9:04 PM
I got no problem with it, but I am actually surprised. I would have thought he might have taken himself off the roll. Of course, government being what it is, that process might take longer then a human life span.
If dems want to fight over this sort of silliness, well good luck with that.
Spirit of 1776 on June 8, 2008 at 9:04 PM
One more thing….you think that any pay members of the military receive for their service is a “handout”? Wow. You are REALLY ignorant.
malan89 on June 8, 2008 at 9:05 PM
“Screw
thenhim”-Kos
VolMagic on June 8, 2008 at 9:06 PM
facepalm.jpg
If I owned the URL to the failblog I would redirect it to dKos.
liquidflorian on June 8, 2008 at 9:06 PM
I do agree with you that he probably shouldn’t be accepting the $$$, but that’s a personal decision. Maybe he’s decided to donate it to charity or something (certainly better than anything Uncle Sam would do with it).
malan89 on June 8, 2008 at 9:06 PM
No why would I be pissed off? Your earlier defintion
was clarifying and I wouldn’t have used the term “welfare” if I had read that before commenting.
aengus on June 8, 2008 at 9:07 PM
Yeah I think your term of handout is the issue here. I consider myself conservative and don’t consider disability payments as handouts. In my book those folks earned that compensation.
Limerick on June 8, 2008 at 9:09 PM
Heh. You rock.
It is an interesting question. Not impropriety or anything, but it’s twice paid by the government. I guess it wouldn’t be different then a pension plus salary…
Spirit of 1776 on June 8, 2008 at 9:09 PM
Gosh, what an idiotic thing to say. First of all, it’s not a handout…he earned it just like any employee hurt on the job might be eligible for disability pay. He earned it as part of his enlistment just as I earn mine through the premiums I pay every month. If I should ever become permanently disabled (hard to do in the classroom), I’d collect too, even if I was able to get another job doing something else later. Secondly, what the heck does his being a Republican have to do with it?
Sheesh.
Bob's Kid on June 8, 2008 at 9:09 PM
Well I probably came off as really ignorant. Sorry about that. It was just the mental image of John McCain (possible future Republican President) collecting his cheque that set my mind reeling. I didn’t intend to demean funky chicken’s husbands or the heroes of the US military. I’ll be more careful in the future.
aengus on June 8, 2008 at 9:10 PM
He, indeed, earned it.
davidk on June 8, 2008 at 9:14 PM
Yep, well I think I landed myself in it by using terms like “welfare” and “handout”. Whoops. I don’t dispute the accusations of ignorance and idiocy. Sorry guys.
I just find it strange that a Presidential candidate for the Republican Party (fiscal conservatism and all that) is still receiving/accepting government assistance when his wife is a millionaire and hes on course to be the leader of the free world.
aengus on June 8, 2008 at 9:14 PM
Wait a tick,been there done that,oh wait another tick,
were dealing with the Hopeing,and Changeing audacious
mindnumbed locked-step robotic making history and boy
dam(n) do I feel less guilty and now I feel so much
better about myself Liberal!
So,Liberals are going to cover this, I’m getting money
from the government because I can,and if this is partly
because of been tortured,hold the phone!
What in the wild world of sports are they thinking,its a
form of compensation,so if your a Liberal,taking money
and going to bat for more government program’s is good,
but as a Republican its bad,ooooooooooooooh this is
bloody rich,how liberal of them!
Here’s a little interlude between comments,some humour:
Barack OBollywood:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sA-451XMsuY
canopfor on June 8, 2008 at 9:14 PM
McCain certainly deserves compensation for the injuries he received in defense of our country. My father is collecting a small sum for being exposed to Agent Orange when he served from 1968-1969.
John McCain is definitely more disabled than the “disabled” I have seen on Maury, Jerry Springer, Judge Hatchett, Judge Mathis, etc.
Dr.Cwac.Cwac on June 8, 2008 at 9:16 PM
I don’t understand.
I don’t understand the difference.
I’m on FAIL mode tonight, clearly.
aengus on June 8, 2008 at 9:16 PM
I’ve had surgury to remove my foot from my mouth on several occassions. Sometimes it is removed from other areas. No harm. I’ve read enough of your posts to know something was amiss.
Limerick on June 8, 2008 at 9:16 PM
To be fair here-
Let’s ask the question why is a man who clearly is physically capable of performing the duties of US Senator getting disability payments in the first place. Where is the disability that is preventing McCain from fulfilling all his goals. He managed to get himself into the position where he could be President. Disability?
McCain could well have lingering physical problems from his military service but let’s not cheapen the sacrifice of others by calling McCain disabled! These rules, mostly from the aftermath of WWII, were based on the idea that military personnel were unable to go back to their profession.
John McCain is fully entitled to that $58K but that doesn’t mean a multi-millionaire married to an heiress is actually disabled to the point he needs to collect from the government are two different things. Personally, I think that John McCain should get the $58K for his service. That doesn’t change the fact that he really isn’t disabled and probably shouldn’t be getting disability payments.
highhopes on June 8, 2008 at 9:16 PM
It seems to me that if you had used the word “compensation” instead of handout you’d have asked a good question.
The issue isn’t whether he earned the money or qualifies to receive it; he does.
The issue is whether he should be accepting it. Obviously, he can. But should he?
A sort of “means testing” question. I.e., should we place any limits on providing assistance/compensation to those who don’t need it?
SteveMG on June 8, 2008 at 9:17 PM
Can’t he fix those teeth with that kind of cash?
ninjapirate on June 8, 2008 at 9:17 PM
Remember – it is wrong, wrong to question the sparsely documented almighty military service of John Kerry and the other soldiers on the left.
Questioning the value of a well-documented, nationally recognized Republican’s service? Just fine and dandy!
I can’t wait for the, “well, with that much money, he could’ve gotten better teeth” bit to start up.
ChePibe on June 8, 2008 at 9:20 PM
Simple answer to a stupid baseless question.
Just travel the world, and by some rotten roll of the dice, get yourself incarcerated. Don’t expect red carpet treatment. Or as in McCain’s case, as a U.S. military person, become a POW and tortured. He was shot down on a raid over Vietnam. McCain not only suffers injuries when he had to bailout of his naval jet, but from five years of Vietnamese torture. His wounds and damage thereof are permanent. He’s not getting anything he didn’t earn folks!
byteshredder on June 8, 2008 at 9:20 PM
To me it is a matter of compensation. I believe we have an obligation to our service men and women to provide that compensation. It has nothing to do with where they go/how high they climb afterwards. It has to do with where they were and what they did at the time.
Limerick on June 8, 2008 at 9:20 PM
McCains donations:
.
http://www.philanthropy.com/free/articles/v20/i14/mccain.htm
ArmyAunt on June 8, 2008 at 9:20 PM
Yeah. I’d rather those orgs have it then Uncle Sam have it. But, hey, that’s just me.
malan89 on June 8, 2008 at 9:26 PM
Cheers.
I get what you’re saying now, thanks.
aengus on June 8, 2008 at 9:28 PM
ninjapirate
Maybe he keeps his teeth like that so he can remember the North Vietnamese b*astards who broke all his teeth for him while he was a POW.
Try finding out the facts before posting
johnsteele on June 8, 2008 at 9:28 PM
Exactly.
malan89 on June 8, 2008 at 9:28 PM
I think he was mocking the stuff Kos people would say.
malan89 on June 8, 2008 at 9:29 PM
I’m on Fail mode tonight,clearly.
aengus on June 8,2008 at 9:16PM.
aengus: You might want to bump that up to the failsafe
position!
What about the Kennedy’s
” ” ” Kerry
” ” ” Nancy Pelosi(Tuna Company)
I’m sure they need getting paid for being in
office,after all they are filthy dirty rotten
rich,ya I know,Kerry’s wife is super rich!
Wait a tad,so is Mrs.McCain! :)
canopfor on June 8, 2008 at 9:30 PM
I don’t think we should use such testing, but allow the compensated to decide whether they should accept it or not. It should be a personal decision. They earned the right to choose whether it is appropriate or not to accept it. Personally (if I was already wealthy), I’d take it and give it to charity. This seems like what McCain is doing (see ArmyAunt’s post).
malan89 on June 8, 2008 at 9:33 PM
canopfor,
Please answer a question that has been bugging me for ages..
Why do you always refer to Iraq as Irag? Is it homage to the Onion parody or is there something wrong with your keyboard?
aengus on June 8, 2008 at 9:34 PM
sick people, more sick is that they have a chance to win big this election cycle.
jp on June 8, 2008 at 9:37 PM
The left has always been a class act.
Too bad McCain didn’t pick up a pricy house at bargin rates from a convicted felon. The left would let him off easy.
Wouldn’t they?
GarandFan on June 8, 2008 at 9:38 PM
For those not familiar with military pensions…John McCain retired from the US Navy. He receives a pension. The fact that he met VA standards for being disabled means that some or all of his pension is tax free. Don’t get hung up on the disabled part. He qualified for a pension for his career in the Navy…Military members reach “pension” requirements at twenty years of active service. It is interesting to note that they are not vested in a retirement plan and will get nothing for careers less than twenty years.
Nozzle on June 8, 2008 at 9:39 PM
My point exactly. McCain should be getting a check for his service and sacrifice. Disability payments are for the disabled- those who can’t work for physical impairment. Calling a man who has spent years in Congress and is poised to become President “disabled” is absurd. Even FDR wasn’t disabled by this standard.
highhopes on June 8, 2008 at 9:39 PM
Gotcha!
Limerick on June 8, 2008 at 9:41 PM
America and its military is not evil. It is indisputably a force for good in the world but you have to remember that it can sometimes be misused as an instrument for evil by people like the slobbering, sex-crazed Bill Clinton.
aengus on June 8, 2008 at 9:44 PM
Why do you always refer to Iraq as Irag?
aengus on June 8,2008 at 9:34PM.
aengus: That is an excellent question!
I think its because before the United States
went in to Liberate Iraq,I think it was a rag*
of a country,and yup,the key board is awfully
sticky from fine Canadian tea!
So,I’m sticking with the first story! :)
*(canopfor regrets besmirching the word rag,
and especially the derogatory remark of the
Liberated country called Iraq!) :)
canopfor on June 8, 2008 at 9:46 PM
Hahaha! A satisfactory explanation. You’ve put my mind at rest finally.
aengus on June 8, 2008 at 9:50 PM
McCain can’t lift his arms up to shoulder level. That most certainly is a disability.
What is wrong with people?
baldilocks on June 8, 2008 at 9:50 PM
Correct in all regards but there is something unseemly about a multi-millionaire married to an heiress even bothering with VA disability status.
Personally (and speaking as one about to get a military pension) I think it is a problem with the whole VA disability system. The focus should be on conditions that truly make servicemembers “disabled” for further employment or life. The well-being of our returning troops from Iraq and PTSD should be more of a priority than hearing loss or the myriad conditions where one can get VA percentages.
highhopes on June 8, 2008 at 9:51 PM
baldilocks on June 8, 2008 at 9:50 PM
highhopes on June 8, 2008 at 9:52 PM
Holy Shit. Highhopes wants to means test military retirement pay.
Yeah, good luck getting qualified guys to stick around for 20 years with that policy.
funky chicken on June 8, 2008 at 9:59 PM
PERFECT EXAMPLE!
The democrat liberal fascists who presume to represent the soldiers with bigger, better promised benefits than exist will actually deny the benefits that do exist on the books for returned vets who suffered war time injury, having qualified for disability.
DNC brand: traitor
maverick muse on June 8, 2008 at 10:06 PM
The McCains also contributed over $330,000 to charitable causes last year.
God Bless America
myamphibian on June 8, 2008 at 10:07 PM
America and its military is not evil.
aengus on June 8,2008 at 9:44PM.
aengus: I’m glad I’m not the only one that thinks,
that,
America and the
United States Military aren’t evil!
and, if I sounded a bit snide, I apoligize,
I AM Canadian,its our nature,however as for
the Jihadys,”Don’t tread on Me”!
canopfor on June 8, 2008 at 10:08 PM
Well, at least the Kos idiot has now posted an update with information from a commenter who seems to know what he’s talking about.
Operation Smile will probably put the money to better use than the government would have anyway, or at least they’ll use more efficiently. I think the McCain family’s interest in Operation Smile comes from what their daughter Bridget had to endure as an infant.
juliesa on June 8, 2008 at 10:09 PM
It isn’t enough.
Glynn on June 8, 2008 at 10:12 PM
You don’t know what you are talking about! Our military standards for disability are obviously unknown to you. If you have a complaint about military disability standards and procedures and recompense, take it up with the military. “Even FDR wasn’t disabled by this standard.” dumbass.
maverick muse on June 8, 2008 at 10:13 PM
Where did I ever say that you did? You did, however, say that he didn’t have a disability and I pointed out that disability.
See the difference?
baldilocks on June 8, 2008 at 10:14 PM
Wrong. And he is disabled! Sheesh.
Also, you don’t seem to know the difference between retiree pay and disability pay. All AD retirees get retiree pay, but not all get disability.
baldilocks on June 8, 2008 at 10:17 PM
Sorta. John McCain’s job doesn’t require him to raise his arm above his head.
highhopes on June 8, 2008 at 10:19 PM
maverick muse on June 8, 2008 at 10:13 PM
YOU missed the point- Dumbass.
highhopes on June 8, 2008 at 10:20 PM
Whether his job requires him to lift his hands over his head or not doesn’t make any difference.
baldilocks on June 8, 2008 at 10:21 PM
For the love of God. You can’t be serious.
Glynn on June 8, 2008 at 10:22 PM
Disability compensation isn’t just for economic losses caused by the injuries.
SteveMG on June 8, 2008 at 10:23 PM
I would love to hear what Bob Dole had to say about this.
Glynn on June 8, 2008 at 10:26 PM
Ditto.
Those jerks!
newton on June 8, 2008 at 10:28 PM
What a low class thing to say.
He may not be able to raise his arms above his shoulders but I bet he can raise his foot to kick your ass.
ArmyAunt on June 8, 2008 at 10:28 PM
You might be surprised how many, left and right, in all areas of government, including those who have been and run for president, are collecting military disability. I have no problem with it.
Glynn on June 8, 2008 at 10:28 PM
YEAH
Glynn on June 8, 2008 at 10:30 PM
The Daily Kos = no different than Viet Cong teeth knockers and soldier-spitters.
Should be easy for every vet organization in the country to remember it.
newton on June 8, 2008 at 10:31 PM
If the military was an easy occupation, everyone would do it.
Just like the Left to question a rightfully earned pension over at least a 20 year military career and then talk of raising taxes so that they can give free health benefits and more welfare dollars to those who have rarely or never had a job. And it’s just like the Left to take away something that was rightfully EARNED.
If this is all the “Democrooks” can dig up, we are in good shape.
Hog Wild on June 8, 2008 at 10:32 PM
I don’t have the resources to market such (maybe someone already has?) But once McCain picks a VP (Romney, hopefully), how about a tee-shirt that is McCain-[VP] on the front, and on the back, in big letters says something like:
N Obama:
N O to Wrecking Economy
N O to Surrender to Islamic Terrorism
N O to Destroying our healthcare system
N O to [some issue]
What thinkthst thee?
ParisParamus on June 8, 2008 at 10:32 PM
If an Iraq/Afghanistan War vet looses a leg or two or becomes a paraplegic via honorable performance of duty and then gets a writing job afterward, he shouldn’t get disability either, according to highhope logic.
Unbelievable.
baldilocks on June 8, 2008 at 10:39 PM
looses=loses
baldilocks on June 8, 2008 at 10:42 PM
Only the dumb ass liberals and other brain dead Democrats could push this point. He’s getting the money because he’s a retired military officer with a disability . . . and he deserves every damn penny of it.
rplat on June 8, 2008 at 10:55 PM
I emailed this miserable excuse for a reporter as follows:
Sir,
You are lower than whale excrement for having the temerity to challenge the basis of John McCain’s disability pension. He spent over 5 years in a POW hell for you and his country, and was left with permanent disabilities that he overcomes every day. He has worked his way back through a long and painful rehabilitation to being able to hike significant distances, as well as serve his country further in the Navy, and then in the Congress. That should be applauded. The fact that he cannot raise his hands above his head, and that he has pain every day from his injuries is his daily reminder of his torture and poor treatment. These injuries are the legitimate basis of his disability pension. As a long-serving military physician, I had the experience of making medical determinations of disability for many soldiers, sailors and airmen in the US military, and Sen. McCain’s case is one in which his publicly known injuries are an obvious basis for his claim.
Being commander in chief requires judgement and stamina, as well as great strength of character. These are the defining characteristics of John McCain, but of course are foreign to you. He is certainly more physicially able than FDR, considered one of our greatest wartime presidents. He recently released his entire medical records, showing no reason for concern that he would be able to serve for 1 or 2 terms as president.
You should be ashamed of yourself for raising this issue. He is a great American, and you are a sniveling, miserable excuse for a newspaper man.
Hang your head in shame.
My Name, M.D.
Former Major, US Army Medical Corps, 1976-1990
neuromancer on June 8, 2008 at 11:00 PM
This is only the beginning……….
Seven Percent Solution on June 8, 2008 at 11:04 PM
I just find it strange that a Presidential candidate for the Republican Party (fiscal conservatism and all that) is still receiving/accepting government assistance when his wife is a millionaire and hes on course to be the leader of the free world.
aengus
Actually, fiscal conservatives believe in getting paid for services rendered. Are you saying that rich folks shouldn’t collect on small debts?
It’s not “assistance”, it’s compensation for services rendered.
This country gives a full military pension after 20 years of service. That means many people receiving a military pension will be in their prime earning years of their late 30s and early 40s. By your logic one can ask why they should they get a pension if they are healthy and have another income?
rokemronnie on June 8, 2008 at 11:07 PM
Well written, M.D., now where can I read Obama’s, Hillary’s or even ex-President Clinton’s medical records……?
Seven Percent Solution on June 8, 2008 at 11:07 PM
I’d have ditched this line, I mean really, do you think the tools that wrote that crap are capable of shame?
doubleplusundead on June 8, 2008 at 11:09 PM
Time to audit all memebers of Congress……. then apply the left’s logic…
Seven Percent Solution on June 8, 2008 at 11:09 PM
This is only the beginning……….
Seven Percent Solution on June 8,2008 at 11:04PM.
Seven Percent Solution: Agreed,the MSM will get an info
babe,plant,and set-up McCain!
For another,ANGRY episode,a la
like Capt.Queeg of the famed
Cains Mutiny!
Then cover it again on CNN,24/7 !
canopfor on June 8, 2008 at 11:14 PM
This is simply more evidence that when the left says they support the troops, they really don’t mean it. It is their favorite catch phrase to use when their disgust of anything military is exposed.
csdeven on June 8, 2008 at 11:15 PM
As far as I’m concerned $58,000 is a lot of money, for anyone, for a disability, which is suppose to compensate mainly for income loss, that doesn’t seem to hurt his income earning or income marrying potential any.
MB4 on June 8, 2008 at 11:18 PM
That would bring a smile to my face.
wise_man on June 8, 2008 at 11:18 PM
He’s not getting $58k worth of disability. He’s retired O-6 with over twenty years.
baldilocks on June 8, 2008 at 11:20 PM
$58,000 a year. Are you sure that is not retirement plus disability?
I got about a #uckin $16,000 +/- for the whole time I was on active duty.
MB4 on June 8, 2008 at 11:21 PM
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