John McCain gets tax-free disability pension

LA Times ^ | 4/22/08 | Ralph Vartabedian

[Dawnsblood]

The fact that he is legally designated with a disability pension may raise further questions.

"It is a legitimate question to ask about the commander in chief: Is he fit to serve," said Robert Schriebman, a senior Pentagon tax advisor and tax attorney who recently retired as a judge advocate for a unit of the California National Guard.

If McCain can hike across the Grand Canyon, then why should he be getting disability payments from the government that are tax-exempt, Schriebman asked.

McCain shattered his knee and broke both arms when he was shot down over North Vietnam in 1967.

In his autobiographies, McCain said that his knee still bothered him in cold weather and that he was unable to raise his hands above his shoulders.

[Sans-Culotte]

A disabled man obviously cannot serve as Commander in Chief during wartime. Just look at FDR. /Sarc

[Vermont Lt]

They are joking, right? Have these people no shame?

[pnh102]

And why shouldn’t McCain be entitled to a disability pension? He’s more than earned it.

[dawn53]

Shame? They’re stupid. Quickest way to turn off the American electorate is to start nit picking about a disabled veteran.

[Dawnsblood]

I wish they were joking but I doubt it. The shame question is kinda funny though... This is the LA Times after all :)

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Nonsense.
A kid from my high school lost a testicle when the APC he was driving hit a mine in Viet Nam. He got a 90 percent disability, came home and fathered three children.

[rahbert]

The answer it appears would be “no”.

[Lizavetta]

McCain said that his knee still bothered him in cold weather and that he was unable to raise his hands above his shoulders.

So what? Obama can't keep his foot out of his mouth and Shrillary can't pull her head out of her ass.

[Liberty Valance]

Oh man, I love scrappleface! Too funny!

[11th Commandment]

Well if the GOP can't nominate a disabled American, the democrats can't nominate a known crock or terrorist sympathizer.

[phrogphlyer]

"McCain shattered his knee and broke both arms when he was shot down over North Vietnam in 1967."

Actually, I think the North Vietnamese did that to him.

[kenmcg]

How low can these commie pukes get. The man was shot down and was tortured as a POW. If his service doesn’t qualify for a disability pension nothing does.

[Coldwater Creek]

“Ace” shouldn’t get a disability pension, because he is not disabled.

Just ask him, and he will tell you how healthy he is.

[phrogphlyer]

Very nice.

[doug from upland]

They are not joking. They have no shame.

[Joe 6-pack]

"A kid from my high school lost a testicle when the APC he was driving hit a mine in Viet Nam."

Reminds me of the joke about the general who, nearing retirement is told he can choose to collect a pension based either on his years in service, or on the distance between his chin and his testicles. He opts for the latter, and at his ETS physical, the attending physician holds a tape measure to his chin and attempts to complete the measurement. He looks up in surprise, and says, "General sir, where are your testicles?"

The general replies, "Some rice paddy outside of Da Nang."

[gunnyg]

“It is a legitimate question to ask about the commander in chief: Is he fit to serve,”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Same as always—he is if he can get away w/it!

[RetiredArmy]

Duh, didn't ole Max “I played with a grenade and lost my arms and legs” Cleland serve as a senator while disabled and they played it up as he was a WOUNDED VIETNAM VET all the time, when he WAS NOT WOUNDED, he was a SELF INFLICTED WOUND by playing around with a live grenade. So, if that ass hole was okay enough to be such a big lefty hero senator, then McCain is okay as a disabled vet. I am a 30% disabled vet from Nam injuries and worn out body parts, but I can still walk! Just because the guy can hike around some, does not mean anything regarding his VA disability pension. IF OLD SOCIALIST ASS HOLE FDR can be prez during a war, so can McScream, though I won't vote for him.

[ltc8k6]

JFK’s back was a wreck.