Why is McCain getting $58,000 a year in disability income?

McCain has every right to request that he be removed from disabled status and discontinue receiving the checks. He's had that right for years. He's just sliding along, taking taxpayers' money, hoping nobody will call him on it.

His doctors said recently that his is physically fine. Therefore we can only assume this is a mental disability, one he has not seen fit to dispute with the Air Force.

This has come up with a candidate before. Thomas Eagleton ring a bell with anyone?

I am for letting him keep his 58,000 and not be the President, think of the money he can get his hands on there. Keep him on the disabled list and in the Senate not the WH

Oh this is such horse hockey from an Obamaite. I thought that he was not going to run this kind of campaign?

McCain is physically disabled, cannot raise his arms above about half way as well as other physical problems.

As far as the GI bill, all McCain wants is to have it be based on service length as a reward for that service not just a couple of years and out.

Shameful seed.

If his disability is "technical" enough to warrant $58,000 a year, tax free, is it also "technical" enough to preclude him from being president....

That, of course, is a bald-faced lie. Had Franklin Roosevelt contracted polio as an active-duty service member he too would have qualified for the exact same thing. Insofar as Sen. McCain's disabilites are concerned they are well-known for anyone with eyes to see. He has difficulties raising his arms above shoulder height due to having his arms and leg broken in the crash of his A-4 and the lack of treatment and abuse suffered at the hands of the North Vietnamese.

My guess is that he's collecting the benefits because he had the sh*t beat out of him in the Hanoi Hilton. This is a non-starter guys, let's find something different to talk about for McCain like his interest in sending his supporters out to spam websites.

McCain is physically disabled, cannot raise his arms above about half way as well as other physical problems.

Maybe it's just the big government liberal in me, but shouldn't some auditor somewhere be asking:

"If this guy can hold down a job wherein he can make $400k a year and engage in fistfights at work, is he really disabled?"

I mean, it's not like he's a fireman or does roofing or something.

This is a non-starter guys,

Maybe. But I think it raises a larger question. How many vets are receiving benefits but have ample other means of support? How many seniors are receiving social security that do not really need it to get by?

Shouldn't these benefits be primarily for those in need? Yes, both groups have earned the benefit. But when both programs are straining to keep up, shouldn't there be some sort of income cap above which benefits are not paid out?

FYI: I will not be voting for McCain nor will I be voting for Obama. They are both owned by the man behind the curtain.

Looks like 3ed party for me. Bob Barr

Just because he qualifies for it doesn't mean he has to accept it. He is married to a BILLIONAIRE! Why should he continue to suck the money out of the government if he doesn't have to. But he's a great American right?

I agree CurtisLow and he has health care for life as well, thank you for seeding this story. The 2008 GI Bill which he opposed, I thought he supported the troops???????

Shut up Space Shot....

If he can't lift his own arms, how in the hell can he even hope to lift this country from the mess it is in right now?

So space guy, you think the top 2% of our country should be taking welfare?
your also going to blame this seed on obama?
and how is taking welfare even as a disabled super rich person, out of bounds for the election?
ESPECIALLY for someone running on the small gov mantra..
I guess it iis just small gov for us little people and the GI's huh
sorry to break it to you and your horse spacey.. but this is very apt and isnt a personal atatck, unlike calling obama a muslim and such that your side does and since this must be obamas fault, iI ill blame all that vitiolic nonsence on mccain.

This is despicable. A man who is married to a woman who makes $6 Million a year can't help but take $60k from those who really need the help.

We are starting to get a clearer picture of how this guy operates. A liar, and a thief who steels grandmas welfare checks.

How is he stealing grama's welfare checks? The guy was tortured for six years while serving America in combat. In my opinion, any arguments that bring attention to Mr. McCain's distinguished, heroic service in Vietnam work against Senator Obama, who has never won a uniform.

Scott Issac's hit the nail on the head, this is a non=starter. It's cheap, unnecessary, and exactly the kind of stuff Senator Obama is against.

My first husband fought in Vietnam. He is receiving $4000.00 a month for being diagnosed with Cancer. That equals $48,000.00 per year. He can't do drywall anymore but he can still ride his Harley in Florida. He has it coming. So does McCain. If you want to know what the money is for, ask him and shut up. Him receiving money from the US Government after being held prisoner of war for 5 years is pennies - pennies. You will probably receive an equivalent amount when you are old. But old does not mean dead. He believes that he has good yet to give. In America, that is enough of a reason to keep working. I would have voted for Hillary. I may not vote at all. But I am not about to bash McCain for VA benefits or for determining what is an adequate amount of benefit to receive. Are the benefits in the bill for disability or education?

I am an Obama supporter.

I am thankful for and proud of John McCain.

I believe he is and should be qualified to receive this benefit, so long as the benefit would be there for any other disabled vet and not just an Admiral's son.

With that being said, the suggestion that there should be an income cap on receiving these benefits is a good one. However, that is not currently the case. This issue is a fight for another day, and currently has NO PLACE in this election.

I'm going to personalize this issue. First, this stands as an issue affecting the "half timers."
"Half timers" are people hired to avoid a number benefits; for example health care and disability. My last job involved teaching prisoners ABE/GED. It was a half time position.
The educational entity that employed me did give health care and disability coverage. Many are not covered for half time jobs.
I became disabled during my employment, which later entailed surgery. I'm lucky to live
in Washington state. I can pay a reasonable amount for basic health, the coverage paid a substantial amount of the costs of the surgery. I left the job with a chronic disability. Luckily I also had disability insurance. I now live on pension and disability. This coverage sustains me. If I had been working for a less progressive employer I would have difficulty supporting myself. Many with less education fall into this uncared for segment of the population. My state does a great deal to support these people and of course myself.
Thank you for addressing this.

I believe he is and should be qualified to receive this benefit, so long as the benefit would be there for any other disabled vet and not just an Admiral's son.

why should someone who is making 6 million a year colect welfare.
I havent heard a reasonible answer yet eespcially from the "entitlement" crowd.
All I hear is mccain is entitled to this money.. does that make it right?

HOW COME A MAN MAKING 6 MILLION A YEAR COLLECTS MORE MONEY IN WELFARE THAN THE MEDIAN AMERICAN INCOME.
WTF DOES HE NEED IT FOR?
HE CANT PAY HIS OWN EXPENSES?
Even if he is entitled.. SHOULD HE COLLECT THIS MONEY? especially when complaining about small gov.

THE RIGHT ONLY AGREES WITH WELFARE FOR THE RICH.
FROM CHENEY HEALTH CARE FOR OUR ELITE RULERS..
TO BAILING OUT THE BANKING SYSTEM/
TO COLLECTING ENTITLEMENTS WHEN YOU ARE IN THE TOP2% of OUR COUNTRY.

McCain should take the lead of many in government who refuse to take benefits or a salary--I think Arnold is doing that in CA. I would think much more of him, were he to do so.

It is with utmost gratitude that I say 'Thank you' to ANYONE who defended/defends our country. I would not want to trade places and would not deny them proper benefits. But there are a tremendous amount of good points made here.
Curtislow makes a great point if he is elected and PTSD is in fact the diagnosis. This does make me wonder .....
Roybatty 'His doctors said recently that his is physically fine.' Which I wouldn't doubt is related to putting to rest the debate over whether he is 'too old' to be prez.
I wonder about disability in general -usually there is a limit to the amount of money one can make when on disability (through SSI). He clearly would be over said limit. Is disability granted to injured veterans regardless of the amount of money they make?
I agree w/ CLM-256248 -as long as others are eligible for this type of compensation I guess there is no problem, even if it stings knowing how much money he already makes.

What a bs seed.

Tell me, do all of our "representatives" need the healthy, great pension they receive? Including umpteen democrats? Hell, there are 535 of those suckers, not to mention the boondoggle trips they take each year. And what did they do to deserve this?

What does Fat Billy get in pension? He makes 10 million a year talking, drinking and having sex with loose women?

Meanwhile, Bill Clinton will draw a Presidential pension that will start at $161,200 per year, and would add up to $7.29 million over his lifetime, should he live to the age of 82.0 years. All former Presidents receive a pension for life, linked to the current salary of Cabinet Members (which often rises). In addition, the Arkansas Code specifies that as a former 4-term Governor, Bill Clinton would be entitled to receive an annuity equal to 30% of the biennally-adjusted salary level for the Governor. That would work out to slightly more than $18,000. However, unlike the Presidential pension, Bill Clinton would have to wait until his 55th birthday, in August, to begin drawing the benefit. This pension occurs in lieu of any state benefit to which he would otherwise be entitled.

Former Presidents also receive staff, travel, mail, and office expense reimbursements that ranged from $308,000 to $548,000 apiece for FY 1999 alone. Although the General Services Administration oversees these funds, only a few basic restrictions on their use apply. Secret Service protection costs are not reported, but are rumored to run into the high millions.

National Taxpayers Union

Here is what the Clintons have made in the years 2000-2007.

Bill and Hillary tax return summary 2000-2007

Why is McCain getting 58,000 per year.

Because he EARNED it, as they say, the HARD way.

Unlike the current crop of foppish dems wannabes.

But, Clinton did not run on a small government, no entitlement platform.

New:

If you wish to bitch about money, bitch about the big takers that didn't do a damned thing to earn it.

But, hey, if you just wish to trash someone who is receiving something they earned, go for it.

Not unusual for the lefty swiftboaters, eh?

But, hey, if you just wish to trash someone who is receiving something they earned, go for it.

No, trash them all. He was paid for his time while he was an employee of the US military. He is no longer an employee of the US military, but receives a paycheck from the Congress. VA Disability is an entitlement for folks who can't support themselves because of injuries acquired while serving in the military. He is clearly able to support himself and, therefore, neither morally or legally entitled to that money.

We have to start at the bottom and start whacking the little weeds. Eventually we will have the soil softened up enough to start taking out the big offenders.

If need is a measure of why we do things, why doesn't Obama not take his $163k per year salary from the government for his Senate job, especially since his attendance rate is at the bottom 10th of all Senators? Would you pay someone $163 k per year for only showing up once in a while for work?

Especially since we know that people like Rezko has helped him financially?

Come on here double standard kids.

Being paid for doing your job and receiving support aid when you don't need it are two different things.

OTOH, as I pointed out, Jay Rockefeller did not take a salary during the time when he was governor of W Virginia. As I read the Constitution, congress critters didn't originally consider their positions full time jobs and were only recompensed for their time and travel. They were all wealthy land owners for the most part. Of course, giving a reasonable salary does give folks who aren't born rich a better shot at public office . . .theoretically.

Rezko did nothing more than fundraise for Obama, how is that helping him financially? Besides, he got rid of all that money remember? You can go HERE if you have forgotten.

If he can't lift his own arms, how in the hell can he even hope to lift this country from the mess it is in right now?

I am an Obama supporter, but this is an ignorant comment. Being the President does not require you to physically lift the country, and McCain's arms were injured while he was a POW.

I think it would be better to avoid criticizing a candidate who served his country and spent time as a POW for the injuries he served while doing so. Those have nothing to do with his ability to run the country.

We should be talking about his use of Ambien, where he gets his money (lobbyists...), his economic plans, and what his plans are for Iraq, Iran, and the other countries in the Middle East - those are real issues with real consequences. Someone having a physical disability as minor as not being able to lift your arms all the way up is not something that should disqualify them from the Presidency.

I am not trashing anyone. I am merely pointing out that there is a hypocracy in running on the no entitlement platform if he is receiving government benefits, not pay, but benefits. I have repeatedly said that he deserves the benefits. I have repeatedly said that he is has my respect and admiration for his service.

Once again, I am merely trying to discuss, deserved or not, how a candidate who is receiving a large sum of government money for disabilities (not contractual salary or benefits) that he may want to extend those same benefits to people in similar circumstances, or he may want to reject them.

Going off about what Bill Clinton gets or makes does not really matter regarding this issue. In that respect I merely pointed out that whether he deserves what he gets or not, he did not run on a no entitlement platform.

It is the ideology, not the money that I am questioning.

So, WMOlaw, relax. Have some camemille tea and listen to some soft jazz.

As far as the GI bill, all McCain wants is to have it be based on service length as a reward for that service not just a couple of years and out.

Why should service time matter? Someone who serves their country and is injured should receive benefits no matter how long they've served. One maimed GI is no different from another - s/he is still a valuable member of our military who has given their body and mind in service for their country.

What is shameful is a man who is worth millions taking money from the government for a service-related disability while denying benefits to fellow servicemen and women.

PS. The difference between this and the Swiftboaters is that the Swiftboaters were a big money political machine set on assassinating someone's character and denegrating their service record.

This is just a bunch of people talking about a candidate's policy and actions relating to those policies.

George Bush was the guy who attacked McCain's service record and integrity.

Scott

Exactly right and I implore all Newsviners of goodwill, regardless of political viewpoint, not to give this steaming pile of @!$%# of a seed any more play than it's already gotten.

I do think Americans who are well off should consider my neighbor's finances. After working from 16 to 75 years of age, she receives 800 dollars/month in social security benefits. She is a high school graduate. She has been passed around from family member to family member. She does get physical help from the state. She also weighs about 80 pounds. She can't breathe. It would be nice if she didn't have to fret
about money from cheque to cheque. I don't understand how people who spend 800 dollars for their car lease, can in good conscience accept Social Security.

Being paid for doing your job and receiving support aid when you don't need it are two different things.

First of all, with an attendance at about 10% that hardly qualifies as a job that he actually does. Second of all your argument has to do with the need for the money, not whether or not he actually (either Obama or McCain here) deserves the money.

McCain absolutely deserves the money as he has the physical disabilities. We should be praising him for his ability to work in the face of those disabilities. My brother in law had his leg cut off in a motorcycle accident while he was in the Air Force and even though it was not combat related, he has had a 90% disability for 40 years, (he lost his hearing in the hospital due to some bad antibiotics that he was given) even though he was retrained and became an engineer and worked for TVA in a senior position for 25 years after his military service. He did not need the money but he damn sure deserved it, just like McCain. It is obvious that McCain would not have been a POW if he had not been in the military, so any money he gets is due to that happening while he was in the military. I don't care if he makes a billion a year otherwise, he still deserves that money. Need has nothing to do with it. However, if you want to make it into a needs based issue, Obama does not need the money for his Senate salary. He should just give it to charity under your rules for McCain.

There was a story here on Newsvine recently about an elderly vet who was denied coverage and killed himself b/c his bills were too high and he couldn't afford his own care.

But yes, isn't it wonderful that a man like McCain, who married Teresa Heinz Kerry, um, I mean the equally rich Cindy (after dumping his own disabled wife) gets disability, and others have to shoot themselves?

Bravo. Well done, McCain. Great job.

CurtisLow;

As a Veteran myself I know a lot about how the VA assigns disability ratings to the nations veterans. Keep in mind that the VA changes it's guidelines often. Other stories have tried to compare Jessica Lynch's rating (80%) to JSM's rating (100%). And although policy changes in assigning ratings changed over the 30 year period between cases, each medical file is reviewed independently and evaluated by the VA to determine a rating. Even during the same period it is possible to have 2 different ratings for the exact same disability. You could compare it to sentencing handed down at a Jury Trial. Sentencing for similar crimes can carry vast differences in sentences as determined by different Judges. Not perfect, but thats the system.

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.
He served his country. Was tortured. Received disability from the Government, assigned a rating by the government.

CurtisLow comments:

If his disability is "technical" enough to warrant $58,000 a year, tax free, is it also "technical" enough to preclude him from being president.... I would think his disability is a mental one.

Maybe PTSD? That's a very real condition with very real and serious manifestations which should not be made light of. In fact, it should be taken so seriously that anyone with PTSD should be nowhere near the "button" or the decision making process for using that button.. Very scary!

Scary? Oh really. 15.2 percent of all male veterans (479,000 out of 3,140,000 who served in Vietnam) and 8.1 percent of women (610 out of 7,200) were diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder in a 1986-1988 study by the National Vietnam Veterans Readjustment Survey (NVVRS).

http://ptsdcombat.blogspot.com/2006/04/ptsd-statistics-wwii-to-iraq.html

Compare that to 13% of americans over the age of 65 will develop Alzheimer's. Under your logic,
"anyone with (Alzheimer's) should be nowhere near the "button" or the decision making process for using that button". Meaning Presidents Adams, Jackson, Harrison, Taylor, Buchanan, Eisenhower, Reagan and Bush should have been tested for Alzheimer's and made their medical records public.

Ridiculous double standard. Try defeating McCain on the issues rather than stooping this low into his medical record.

Try defeating McCain on the issues rather than stooping this low into his medical record.

When you run for President everything is or should be an open book for all to see.
Like I said before, McCain is a warmonger and neo-con. In my opinion he will be no better then Bush if not worse.

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.

*raising hand*
Out of five airplane crashes, only 1 was in combat. The rest were due to his poor piloting skills. So, McCain lost five military aircraft in 10 years. Did you ever think his injuries were do to something else?

McCain is a warmonger and neo-con

I agree with this statement to an extent. That is to say that is what he is now. I think McCain is whoever he needs to be to get elected. There was a time when I thought he might be the first Republican I voted for. Not now. Not by a long shot.

Out of five airplane crashes, only 1 was in combat. The rest were due to his poor piloting skills. So, McCain lost five military aircraft in 10 years. Did you ever think his injuries were do to something else?

What?? Uh, it's called "Ejecting" from an aircraft after getting it shot out from underneath you. You should try it sometime.

On October 26, 1967, McCain was flying his twenty-third mission, part of a twenty-plane attack against the Yen Phu thermal power plant in central Hanoi that had almost always been off-limits to U.S. raids. As he neared the target, warning systems in McCain's A-4E Skyhawk told him he was in danger from enemy fire. He held his dive until he released his bombs at about 3,500 feet (1,000 meters) (he would be awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for this day). As he started to pull up, the Skyhawk's wing was blown off by a Soviet-made SA-2 anti-aircraft missile fired by the North Vietnamese Air Defense Command's 61st Battalion.
McCain's plane went into a vertical inverted spin. Bailing out upside down at high speed, the force of the ejection fractured McCain's right arm in three places, his left arm, and his right leg, and knocked him unconscious. McCain nearly drowned after his parachute dropped him into Trúc Bạch Lake in Hanoi. Some Vietnamese pulled him ashore. After he regained consciousness, a mob gathered around, spat on him, kicked him, and stripped him of his clothes; others crushed his left shoulder with the butt of a rifle and bayoneted him in his left foot and abdominal area. He was then transported to Hanoi's main Hoa Lo Prison, nicknamed the "Hanoi Hilton" by American POWs.

CurtisLow: You don't have to like JSM in order to respect his service to our country. But I shouldn't be surprised here. Your political views would question a man's valor in combat, injuries sustained as a result of being shot down, and at the same time NOT QUESTION Obama's illegal cocaine and marijuana use by simply giving illegal behavior a free pass.

Some people say that cocaine use permanently impairs judgement. Of all the people here that screamed bloody murder about completely unfounded rumors of Bush's cocaine use, I find it interesting that none are willing to even address Obama's admitted use as a lapse in judgement.

I don't understand how people who spend 800 dollars for their car lease, can in good conscience accept Social Security.

Thank you. I worked for the VA in the CHAMPVA call center. The people I was dealing with were the families of vets who were either "permanently and totally disabled" or died of a service-connected disability. They were not in a good place to start off with, but when I heard that many were receiving less than $1000 a month from Social Security / Disability / the DOD, it just made me sick.

Again. It is not so much whether Bush did coke or not. It is that he was running for the party that claimed moral superiority, hooked up the evangelicals, and bullied everyone, including Clinton about marijuana use, on the basis of that presumed moral superiority. Other than that I didn't care if GWB shot heroin.

It is the same thing here. I don't care what anyone does with their cash or how much of it they have or who they married to get it. I absolutely don't care. (And as I have said many times in this thread JSM deserves his service pay and benefits).

The issue is that he is running for the party that claims moral and fiscal superiority and responsibility bashing entiltement programs and government payouts.

The issue is also that he voted to limit GI benefits.

This is not about Obama. This is not about McCain's valor. This is about running for a party that bullies everybody and states such absolutes while the candidate does not abide by his party's own doctrine. It is about the ideology not the money.

CurtisLow: You don't have to like JSM in order to respect his service to our country. But I shouldn't be surprised here. Your political views would question a man's valor in combat, injuries sustained as a result of being shot down, and at the same time NOT QUESTION Obama's illegal cocaine and marijuana use by simply giving illegal behavior a free pass.

I am a US veteran, so says my DD214. Respect is something you earn. It's not something that is given. McCain has not and will not earn my respect because he does not respect other US veterans.

Nowadays it's all about respecting the US warrior and not the war. I'm very surprised that today's warrior does not have an Exxon Mobil patch where our US flag is located because we all know that this war is built on a bunch of lies and deceit and is about corporatism and profits for the elite and not the security of our nation.

McCain and Obama. I will not vote for ether.

Respect is something you earn.

You are exactly right. That is why our Country remembers Veterans on Veterans day and honors fallen warriors on Memorial day. It is out of deep respect for ALL who have served.

space guy:

Some people say that cocaine use permanently impairs judgement. Of all the people here that screamed bloody murder about completely unfounded rumors of Bush's cocaine use, I find it interesting that none are willing to even address Obama's admitted use as a lapse in judgement.

Does Obama seem mentally impaired to you? I understand that you're just trying to illustrate a parallel here but choose a different one. The rumors weren't "unfounded" and, if your argument is true, then the mental impairment seemed to show itself in Bush's campaigning a number of times over the years.

That said, however, people should get over this and discuss something else. To begrudge McCain a $58K pension as a result of him being tortured while an airman for the USN is pointless, counterproductive and a bad faith campaigning move. I know Obama would not want his supporters talking about it, so why are we?

Suppose FDR had been in service in WWI instead of incurring his disability through polio. Would he have been regarded as incompetent to serve as president based on that disability?

We need to understand that disability as used here has to do with the connection of some injury or illness to the veteran's military service. For example, exposure to extreme cold or untreated injuries could result in significant disability for VA purposes without impairing one's ability to function in the senate or in the office of the presidency. That disability could be something like arthritis that impairs two or more limbs.

This really is a matter of how the laws are written and the regulations are applied. The medical records may show McCain to be perfectly healthy for a guy his age, but the system also acknowledges the toll his service took. Take that away from someone because you don't like his politics and we open up every returning veteran's employment prospects to question because of the disability system. If you have a friend or loved one serving now, would you want them to return to discrimination and bigotry because of it? Of course not.

If the rampant suspicions of McCain's mental instability promoted by people like Rush Limbaugh were true, maybe that's where he got his 58%.... Then again, I think someone would probably have to be a bit crazy to believe McCain would have survived this long in his public service -- or in his post-Vietnam military career -- with a mental disability.

Too many are confused about disability insurance from Social Security and VA disability. They are two totally different programs. See #1.36, #57.1, and #58 for clarification if you need to.

As for his support of the GI Bill, he did not want Sen. Webb's GI Bill because he had his own version of the GI Bill.

Sen Webb's version was a very large and generous GI Bill that would resemble the WW II era GI Bill. Not a bad package, but it also has it cons. It's hugely expensive and would really promote junior members to get out of the service after their first term. It's very difficult to have a professional military with a professional NCO Corps when you have such a high turnover of junior enlistees. Also, his bill did not give transferability to dependents.

Sen McCain's bill was favored by many in the military. I still receive copies of the Army Times and his version was highly favored by most of the soldiers writing in to comment on it. His version gave a smaller amount to first term enlistees, but it was still a good amount. If the person served additional years, he would receive a higher amount. (seems fair to me...more time=more money received) His version also would allow members that chose not to use their benefit, but had earned it, to pass that benefit on to their children. What a great idea! How great for a Senior NCO that knew he wouldn't go to college after he left the military; to be able to pass his benefit to one of his children. He could assist his children in achieving a college education.

So, that's why he didn't vote for he bill. It's not that he didn't want to support the military. In fact, it's the exact opposite. He wants to make sure the military is not strained with a high turnover of personnel. He also wants to reward those that decide to stay for longer terms. He also listened to the military members when they asked to be able to transfer some of their benefit to their children. And, he still would give those that left after their first term a decent GI Bill package.

PO:

Good explanation, thanks for the post.

Let me try to understand this for the McCain supporters, let me ask this one question: Since you all feel that McCain is entitled to $58,000/yr for disability for being tortured, since most of us would agree that death is the "ultimate form of torture", why isn't the government obligated to pay 5, 10, 20 times that amount to parents/spouses of veterans who were KILLED in the line of duty? I'd be curious to know if all tortured military were collecting such a generous form of disability along with a full-time job. Disability means inability to work. So McCain has been a US Senator for 22 yrs now, making well over $200,000/yr, and he also collects $58,000/yr disability (and folks let not confuse the word disability with pension). And I'm not going to even throw his wife's billionaire status into this equation cause it's a moot point.

The fact of the matter is that this man is no more better than any other Vietnam Vet who served our country who were tortured and/or disabled in the line of service. There are far more who lost their lives in this war. My best friend's brother was killed in his second day in Vietnam at the age of 18, and his parents didn't collect any ongoing payments from the government . We have Vets who are now homeless, mentally affected by the war, in dire need of medical care, many of whom don't even have transportation to get to their local VA hospital. Additionally, these vets would not even be allowed to collect DISABILITY checks if they were employed.

I know the staunch McCain supporters will try and justify him collecting this disability while McCain has been employed over 22 yrs as a senator that affords him a yearly income over $200,000.

My point is not that of a supporter for Obama ... my point is where is this man's patriotic duty now that he is working. I'd think his conscious would have him not collect the disability (or donate it to charity) if he were not the money-hungry monger that he is like that of his predecessor. That's why America is in the mess we're in now because of the greed of BUSH, and so now we're supposed to trust a man who would without a conscrious collect disability although he's employed with a 6-figure income. This is insane.

I'm sure if I, or other everyday Americans, were collecting disability checks and reporting annual income, we'd be prosecuted for fraud since working full-time proves in and of itself that we are no longer disabled. Again, people, we're not talking about PENSION ... he's collecting disability for God's sake and he works full-time.

Since you all feel that McCain is entitled to $58,000/yr for disability for being tortured,

There is problem with that premise. McCain was never tortured.

Let's all jump on the mud slinging band wagon!

yah, really great seed.

Basically he is getting the benefit because he is entitled to it. Now should he be entitled to it is another question. Is the disability so serious enough that he is unable to work in another paid job ?
Clearly Not. Has he contravened any rules by not declaring income to the pensions authority that administer the pension? Should the pension be subject to review ? Yes !

Well said Barry.

Well said Barry ? I don't think so. The VA assigns ratings based on policy. It's nothing short of lunacy to suggest McCains VA "disability" pension should be reviewed. To learn how the VA works study it. A good start would be 1.36 above.

Given that his medical records are rightly confidential it is difficult for us to appraise whether he is entitled or not. Though there seems to be some difficulty in Iraqi Veterans getting benefits at least from press reports Ive read...

Right here! Perhaps.

So, Cat Lady, you will vote for the person who doesn't share any policy ideas with Hillary? Why did you support her?

So, Cat Lady, you will vote for the person who doesn't share any policy ideas with Hillary? Why did you support her?

Excellent question, JonesGirl. Which shows how shallow some so-called Democrats are.

Yeah, perhaps they are "Cross Dressing Republicans" just making no sense at all and trying to disrupt logical discussions. Republicans do not seem to be in touch with the working class American People, only the filthy Rich.

Among which are Brown and Root, their spin off Haliburton, etc. These Texas corporate entities have made bundles off the war. Let's see, Bush lives in Texas and is invested in Haliburton and Cheney was an administrator for Halliburton and is invested. Am I being paranoid or is there a pattern here?

Yeah, I really don't understand the mindset, Ms. CYPRAH, that will supported Hillary but will vote for McCain. Makes me wonder what they supported about Hillary, obviously not policy!

McWar made propaganda tapes not movies to the best of my knowledge...

To say HE made them is dishonest and not accurate. Unless you think he had a choice, in which case I say you don't understand captivity and torture very well.

(Oh, and you can dispense with the name calling - this is not middle school.)

Is there any kind of proof whether or not McCain made those tapes?

Apparently these tapes do exist. It seems I got a little smarter today.

I understand that he was tortured and would have said anything under those conditions. Most anyone would have. That is precisely why he should have voted to ban water torture. It is disgusting that he sided with George Bush on that one. The problem with torture is that you cannot trust the information to be true.

McCain is disabled huh? Oh well, one of our great presidents (FDR) was disabled. I'm not sure if he received disability while still being able to work though.

yeah that's like saying since he is over 65 he should collect disablitiy.
someone fighting for small gov, should not have been collecting disability for so long, especially with the millions he has.
Disability is supposed to help those who are disabled who have trouble working as much as we do and have more expensies than we do, mccain has none of this. he is no better than any welfrauder.
Oh he may have the right to the money but he is still defrauding the government on intent.

It's like mccain thinks he should collect SS as he is over 65.. they talk about SS and medicare and such going to bankrupt the country, well WTF is he collecting it?

Curtislow:

"McWar?"

Your nick is right on point as to your posting style.

I suppose you are for "Hussein?"

wmolaw
I use the nick McWar because he (McCain) wants a 100 year war with Iraq a country that did not attack us. 100% warmonger

If you look up McCain's real nick it is McNasty because of his short temper.

I suppose you are for "Hussein?"

Well if you know your history the US (CIA) put him in power.
FYI. No Strike one.

wmolaw

I suppose you are for "Hussein?"

Oh, you mean Obama ? go about 42 posts up and you will find the answer to your question..

I thought you were talking about the dictator Hussein.. My bad...

But the strike still stands..lol

That is precisely why he should have voted to ban water torture. It is disgusting that he sided with George Bush on that one.

Honestly, his change of heart on this issue is what lost my support.

He was tortured for 5 years as a POW, undoubtedly often as part of "interrogation."

He sold his integrity for votes when he decided to support Bush's torture policies.

that is sickening, he makes more money tax free than a majority of americans.. and obama is the elitist

I don't believe this is a good seed. This whole correspondence makes me sick. Not because I am voting for McCain, I will probably vote for Obama. I wish I could have voted for Hillary. But because the seed brings out the worst in people. It shows a general lack of sensitivity for Americans in general. You all forget, because you were not alive to experience it or you never learned it in school, that the people who went to Vietnam had stars in their eyes because the government told them that they were fighting a noble war. They were going to return to the hero's welcome their fathers had. They were kept there to support the economy, they were kept there so that the US could sell arms to Vietnam. They were exposed to unrestricted amounts of drugs, they were pushed beyond what anyone can imagine today. They were sprayed with napalm and ate WWII C-rations, dated 1942. (C is for "can") You wet eared babies should be ashamed of your stupidity! Oh my god, McCain is getting money from the federal government.

he makes six million a year.
MY father is a vet.
I know about vietnam.
Mccain is not like the guys on the street.
he is not struggling.
he has no good excuse for keeping the money when he preaches small gov and even limits the benefits to those serving now.
SOrry you really cant spin it any other way.
HE MADE 6 MILLION LAST YEAR
the median income int he us is 40k
it would take the adverage american 150 years to earn what he did in 1.
he has no exucse running on a small gov platform and collecting money he and his family and his children and his condition DO NOT NEED.

Yikes, so he is getting more than the average bear on disability alone??? great response. Thanks Joulesbeef

Can or more accurately 'Should' we be mad at him for taking money IF he is deserving? (I don't know how we regular folk would be able to know IF he is deserving by written standards/procs/laws etc). I don't intend to vote for him anyway, and this finding doesn't help.

After all it is how the rich get richer, not missing oportunities for income.

After all it is how the rich get richer, not missing oportunities for income.

The implication is that his legally entitled disability check is a get rich scheme. Probably based on the numbers Joules has posted above the $4,800 a month doesn't even make a blip on his financials that some accounting firm manages for him and his wife.

I would venture to say a greater shame is the wealthy's incredible lack of generosity.

McCain slowly stands up, takes off his shirt, shows the scars from the beatings, shows how he cannot raise his arms very high, shows the scars from where his bones stuck through his skin after landing and recounts how many weeks it was before he was cared for.

Obama becomes the toast.

In other words, he demonstrates to the audience that he is disabled?

Do you really think once people actually see the leathery scars, that would get him more votes?

And then the AF records are released revealing McCain for being a horrible, irresponsible pilot.

If McCain's daddy wasn't an Admiral he would be dead today because the North Vietnamese would never have treated his life threatening wounds.

And then the AF records are released revealing McCain for being a horrible, irresponsible pilot.

Yep interesting that is, as he was in the NAVY.

And we have to put up with several more months of this illiteracy.

space guy in #6.5

Yep interesting that is, as he was in the NAVY.

Illiteracy - you got that right. Except it's your own. I don't know where you live but here in the USA, there are pilots in the NAVY too. They are called naval pilots or naval aviators. And McCain happened to be one. But unlike the fake pilot Bush, he was at least a real one. A bad one though. If he can't pilot a bloody aircraft, how can he even hope to pilot a country??

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_mccain#Military_service_and_marriages

John McCain's pre-combat duty began when he was commissioned an ensign, and started two and a half years of training as a naval aviator at Pensacola.[15] There he also earned a reputation as a party man.[5] Graduating from flight school in 1960,[16] he became a naval pilot of attack aircraft. McCain was then stationed in A-1 Skyraider squadrons[17] on the aircraft carriers USS Intrepid and USS Enterprise,[18] in the Caribbean Sea and in the Mediterranean Sea.[19] He survived two airplane crashes and a collision with power lines.[19]

SO apceguy, you think disability was meant for the super rich?
do you think that even if he was missing a leg, that people would exceept him making more money opn welfare than a majority of americans?

Ya'll seem to freak on welfare for everyone but the super rich.

Illiteracy - you got that right. Except it's your own.

You guys crack me up! How will the AF (Air Force I assume) produce Navy records?

You guys crack me up! How will the AF (Air Force I assume) produce Navy records?

I think you are cracking yourself up. AF = Armed Forces. That, if you are in the USA, includes :

* United States Army
* United States Navy
* United States Marine Corps
* United States Air Force
* United States Coast Guard

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Armed_Forces

You know what they say about assumptions, right?

2 thumbs up @ PrezO #6.9

There is no such thing as AF records. There are Air Force Records, there are Navy Records, there are Marine Corps Records, and there are Army/national guard, coast guard records.

This is what we are to expect in terms of discourse over the next several months?

I would be ashamed to be a democrat.

6.11,

When everything else fails, play the semantics game. Bingo!

Priceless, that statement, coming from someone who didn't even know that the US Navy has pilots.

Well Space Guy it's not really something that rises to the level of shame...

But seldom does AF mean anything else to a USCG, USN, USA or a USMC vet but a reference to our beloved Zoomies... but then the military world of acronyms is a bottomless pit.

Now I've just added more confusion for those who think USA is just a country.

I would be ashamed to be a "Space Shot", Space Guy.

On second thought let's not go to Camelot. Tis a silly place.

Someone is going to vote for McCain and doesn't know he was a pilot and was shot down?

Seriously?

So in your world, there is but one type of disability, and it involves a chair with wheels?

Of course not. And even come people in wheelchairs aren't 'disabled'.

My comment has to do with the fact that he is portraying himself as perfectly able bodied to the public and cannot be if he is collecting that money.

He cannot have it both ways.

If he is able-bodied then he must be disabled psychologically. I don't think that we want a man with that type of disability to have his finger on the button, do we?

If he was in a wheel chair, I wouldn't say he shouldn't be Pres.

Remember, too, that the press was able to look at his medical records, but specifically not his psychological records. Nothing regarding a physical disability came up in those records examinations, so the question really is why is he getting that money?

so the question really is why is he getting that money?

exactly.

It's not like he even needs the money. In 2003, McCain was worth $1.8 million dollars. While hardly the richest senator, even at only a 2% annual return on his holdings he would make $36,000/yr. His salary from the US Senate is $169k.

Disabled means unable. If he can hold the job of presidency, I don't see how's he's disabled. Unless he's MENTALLY disabled, in which case he should not be in charge of a country with such serious decision making.

I don't see any physical disabilities on the man; do you? He's more active than most 70-somethings I know, with all of his campaigning, etc. So what's the deal? Is he mentally ill, or is he a thief?

There have been election advice analysts who claim that focusing on McCain's disabled veteran status will garner him more votes, not fewer votes.

That is one reason why his opponents have not mentioned it much. They must be getting desperate, now.

IMO, the man earned his benefits and is collecting them legally.

In addition, a lot of what has been mentioned here about a disability making a man incompetent is discriminatory toward all the disabled.

Organizations fighting discrimination against the disabled have been fighting this inaccurate notion that a physical disability equates to mental incompetence, for years.

I don't think this claim of mental incompetence automatically associated with a physical ability will fly well with them.

Shaun, you aren't curious as to why McCain is entitled to this money?

Shaun.. first off.. F a bunch of election advice analysts. They were probably hired by mccain anyways.

IMO, the man earned his benefits and is collecting them legally.

You are entitled to your opinion, but it is wrong. There is no grey area in this. To be eligible for collecting disability payments you must prove, in front of a judge, that you are no longer able to work, and that has to be verified by a medical panel. If, after you begin collecting disability, it is deemed that you are in fact able to work, you may no longer collect disability payments.

In addition, a lot of what has been mentioned here about a disability making a man incompetent is discriminatory toward all the disabled.

If you read carefully, you will notice that the debate is over whether he is mentally disabled or physically. One or the other. No one is implying that one causes the other. Remember, correlation does not equal causation.

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."

John McCain gets tax-free disability pension

After WWII my uncle, who was a prisoner of war, received a 10% disability for the rest of his life, even though he served an additional 32 years in the military. Why? Frostbite. It caused him extreme pain in cold weather for the rest of his life but you only saw him wince when it was very cold.

You people are sick. I cannot believe that this is what you are reduced to. I am ashamed for Obama that this is what you want to talk about for president.

Sick beyond all comprehension and a signpost of the continuing degradation of the culture of the United States.

You people are sick. I cannot believe that this is what you are reduced to. I am ashamed for Obama that this is what you want to talk about for president.

Yes, he was tortured while he was a POW. If the medical panel agrees that he is permanently disabled as a result of those actions, then he is fully entitled to compensations. However, how can he then say that the current veterans do not need more money? In an economy that is going downhill, with prices of everything going ever higher, the extra money in the GI bill is 'over generous'? I think not.

You people are sick. I cannot believe that this is what you are reduced to. I am ashamed for Obama that this is what you want to talk about for president.

Did Obama have ANYTHING to do with this article?

Answer hint: begins with 'N', ends with 'O'.

How you are attributing it to him is beyond me.

[quote] To be eligible for collecting disability payments you must prove, in front of a judge, that you are no longer able to work, and that has to be verified by a medical panel. If, after you begin collecting disability, it is deemed that you are in fact able to work, you may no longer collect disability payments. [/quote]

Dead. Wrong. You're talking about a completely different disability system. VA disability and "I got hit by a taxi and can't answer phones for AOL any more" disability are apples and oranges. VA disability is compensation for loss of ability during a servicemember's term of service that is directly caused by that service. It has absolutely nothing to do with a veteran's employability. It's NOT income replacement, it's compensation for a disability or disabilities incurred by the veteran while in the service.

This seed is the most pitiful case for addressing the national debt I have read anywhere.

Give me a break, $58,000?? This whole thread wreaks of partisan stupidity that has lost both the sense of genuine fiscal responsibility and any appreciation for our veteran's sacrifices. Wake up, even basic workers compensation insurance pays better than that for permanent disability...

If all of you fiscally concerned posters truly want to end "entitlements" then start with congressional and presidential pensions and benefits. We have literally thousands of retired millionaire politicians each making hundreds of thousands of taxpayer $$$ on annual pensions, security, and other benefits for service rendered in the carpeted buildings of our air-conditioned government facilities for at least one term of some kind of elected office.

But I guess some of you really won't be satisfied unless a new government department is set up to reduce veteran disability benefits in an earnest effort to eliminate "waste" and a trillion dollar debt. We get what we deserve.

Matt:

Exactly, McCain earned it.

It's funny to see so many who contribute so little, belittling a man who has contributed so much.

Pitiful.

Exactly, McCain earned it.

No, he didn't EARN it. VA disability is an entitlement that is used to support those who have served who are unable to support themselves. He gets a Navy Pension, that is what he EARNED.

Gwenny, you said it all right there.

He has been perfectly able to support himself, yet doesn't refuse to take that money.

Money, BTW, that could be used to support a vet who really can't suport him/herself!

This VA disability entitlement program doesn't have *income* has a criteria?

Shameful. Mr. Millionaire Smaller Government accepting that money all these years!

I'd like to retract #7.2. I should have read further before making that comment and obliquely suggesting that it was a mental disability. For any McCain supporters (or others) who found the thrust of that comment out of bounds, I apologize.

If McCain is entitled to disability payments, then he is within his rights to claim them. However, I still find it a bit odd given his stated ideology that would claim it when he manifestly does not need the money (as stated in #7.4).

Bill and space guy, it's no more disgusting then what was said about Kerry and HIS injuries.

I remember at least one of you making "disgusting" statements about him.

What injuries? How about detailing those injuries. Did any of them cause him lasting pain?

My brother was shot twice in Vietnam and was also shot down three times in his helicopter but did not have any disability as he got lucky and did not get shot or injured in a way that was debilitating.

Kerry did not have any disability from any of his injuries nor did he serve even half of his 13 month tour. My brother served his full time despite his injuries.

The question isn't weather or not he is disabled. HE IS. He cannot lift his arms above his head. That fact anyone is questioning that is embarrassing. We don't question the disabilities of any other vet. He spent 5 1/2 years as a POW. The fact that his father was an upity up did help him, but when they tried to release him he refused until everyone captured before him had been let go. Do not question his disabilities it is just rude.

Now, onto the point of him deserving the money. Yes he deserves it. NO HE DOES NOT NEED IT. Should he refuse it, I morally believe so. The fact that he made so much money in the past year and still continued to accept the money is a little shady to say the least! Sure, he may have been a poor pilot, but what does that have to do with him receiving money for being a POW and having sustained serious injuries? He was ordered to fly, remember that.

70k and my husband and I worked our A$$ of for it! He works hard manual labor so don't even go down that rabbit trail and call us communist. I can't stand free loaders or leeches... try reading some of my other posts on here instead of taking two sentances out of context and taking it to an extreme.

I think we have a miss communication going on here.
How is me giving you money you didn't work for morally sound? You have totally missed my point and HAVE taken it out of context. I was saying it shouldn't be ok for him to take the money while trying to keep others from receiving the same thing (He's voted to take away some veteran benefits).I morally believe he shouldn't take the money for that reason, not because he doesn't deserve it OR because he "has too much money."
I'm not trying to keep anyone from working hard to make 70k or more, more power to them.

it shouldn't be ok for him to take the money while trying to keep others from receiving the same thing (He's voted to take away some veteran benefits).I morally believe he shouldn't take the money for that reason, not because he doesn't deserve it OR because he "has too much money."

And that is the heart of the issue.

I don't understand. Is it a pension or disability?

His legs are no longer shattered. I really don't see how he needs that much money, especially since he married a rich woman, just like Kerry did.

he can't raise his arms over his head

Lebron flips Johnny Mac a behind the back pass...and says....Dude's fakin

You people are beyond scary. Why does he NEED it? Who cares if he needs it??? He earned it! Is this The Soviet Union or what? Oh wait...that didn't work...just like socialized health care won't work or any other crybaby entitlements. Name a govt program that is working. Maybe he accepts it even though he doesn't need it so that he can give it to his favorite charity. Whatever....don't mess with another person's earnings. Quit crying. Go to work.

Who cares if he needs it??? He earned it!

Disability is an entitlement program meant for those who NEED it.

His pension from being in uniform he earned.

He is Republican, they don't like welfare.

See the irony?

Frankly, I have no sympathies for McCain and his injuries, since he was so disgusted by his own wife's disabilities due to her horrible car accident that he left her for his current wife.

He should be ashamed, but shame requires a conscience.

He is Republican, they don't like welfare.

I suppose every one beside Republicans just like handing money out? Welfare is a handout when you can't/(most frequently)won't work. Disability is from being injured while working . I second this:

Maybe he accepts it even though he doesn't need it so that he can give it to his favorite charity

Do you know what he does with that money? Unless you do, please stop the blind assumptions.

If he gave it to a charity, it would only be a be tax right-off for he and Cindy.

Please.

You're just not a happy-look-on-the-bright-side-of-life person are you? One of the greatest obstacles to inner peace is the inability to let go of anger, fear, and suspicion.
I wish you well nearing.

Ivy Mike:
Support your assertion that most people who get welfare refuse to work... otherwise that is your biased opinion of people you don't even know but begrudge for using your tax money.

Neering,
Entitlement: Entitlement is a guarantee of access to benefits because of rights, or by agreement through law.

Just an FYI for your argument, that you kinda sabotaged yourself.

@Scott Living the life. Working within the life. Working for those who 'live the 3 generation dream'. Casually dating some whose sole purpose was to 'get by' never striving for more. Friends, family, and co-workers. At this time I can't provide actual documented proof to you Scott but the places I've lived and worked (South Carolina, North Carolina, Florida, Connecticut, New York, Ohio, Kentucky) that's the general consensus. I have no issue with someone who is trying and needs that little help from the state. It's those that refuse to work or do their best not to that I am in disagreement. I have seen both sides of that coin.

Now for my opinion on this matter. If he is disabled due to his military service, then he deserves anything the government or VA will give him. But, there is no reason that any veterans should be not receive benefits.

The same could be said about you. The government certainly won't give your money to someone else, as much as we both wish they would. You deserve that money too.

Thank you. I appreciate what you did.

Shame on all of you. As cranky old man said... he deserves what ever he gets for giving himself to our Country. He is rich enough and in a position to refuse it...but come on very few would ever do that. What concerns me is does he have enough consern for the ones that need it now? I know a family in Oregon that couldn't get the help they needed with their son, who had night terrors. They had to lock him in his room at night if fear and all our governt was doing was providing counciling twice a month. They could not afford the the cost of phone calls and travel to the VA hospital and his mom wrote everyone for help with no satisfaction. Too bad we lost Hillary...she really cared and had a plan to help. That's what Moms do!

Thank you Cranky Old Man! You deserved the comp and should have taken it!

abowhite:

You have no knowledge of what you are speaking on.

What I hope is they look into BO with the same fine tooth comb and see if he is buddies with any radicals that hate America, hate whites, etc.

Oh, wait ....

see if he is buddies with any radicals that hate America

Ah, like Hagee... oh, wait.

Well, hell, I sure as hell hope you never criticized Kerry's war injuries. Otherwise you might need to spit on yourself.

Matt- very well stated. Those who would say it's wrong for him to take the disability should return their stimulus checks, tax refunds, etc.

Save your spit. You seem to be purposely missing the point which is how can John McCain accept all that he accepts yet begrudge Veterans the opportunity to get training or a college degree (at the equivalent of a 4-year state school cost) without time served limits? The kid who loses a leg, an arm or any other debilitating injury before he/she has served the required number of months, years will not qualify for that benefit even though such retraining or education will determine their productivity in years to come. He, of all people, should understand that.

I'm not saying he should not take it at all or to send it back, I'm saying it's an awful lot of money for him to be receiving and he can't show up to support the Veterans education bill.

He might be rich but your average vet is not, this link says it all on how McCain sucks on veteran issues.

In light of the vote on a modernized, bipartisan GI Bill for U.S. troops, John McCain was forced to defend his position against general educational benefits for veterans. (For the record, McCain didn't't vote on the bill, preferring to go to a fundraiser in California.)

McCain responded by changing the subject away from the bill, emphasizing his service time speaks for itself and he knew what was best for veterans.

Well he's a liar and does not know what's best for Veterans, especially this one who is also disabled and I want to know how does a man get 58,000 tax free dollars and has a poor record on supporting veterans.

Damn right I want to KNOW the breakdown of his disability pay, it's all a matter of public record when running for the highest office in the land and I want to know how it is this man is making more than veterans who are missing arms and legs and can't afford the cost of college.

Let me ask you a question Matt, while you're spitting on people who have not severed in the greatest military in the world, have you ever served? If not be careful how you spit into the wind...

Matt,

I don't think you need to spit on anyone who has not served. Not everyone can.

I also don't think you need to tell veterans who don't take disability that they have less than half a brain.

I chose not to take any disablity. I even tried to go back to service a couple of times, but was ultimatley PDQ. (Permanetly Disqualified).

I have been able to survive.

I have also been told by many, including other veterans, to take what they will give me. My point on not taking it is simple.

I know they won't just give it to someone else. But that money is budgeted every year. With me not taking that money, it can be spent somewhere else. Who knows, maybe the money I didn't take will pay for a new knee for your dad, or even keep someone else from not getting their money.

Yes, I have trouble that stems from my injury, but I deal with it. I think about the ones who can't do anything because of their injuries. I can deal with the pain when it comes. I just take it easy and let it pass. I still have my legs and arms. I can see just fine, and my hearing is as good as it was then.

If you saw me walking down the street on any given day and knew I was getting disablity, you would say one of two things. It would be "Why is he getting that money?" on a good day, or "He should be getting more than that!" on a bad day.

I think it should be my choice if I take disablity or not. But I also think if any veteran needs it, it should be there for them. Just cut out the red tape.

Any veteran with half a brain will take any dollar the government wants to give him.

here's the thing, the guy's earned the safety net of disability, as have you. He doesn't need it and I certainly hope you don't either and can earn $500k w/o as life is just alot more satisfying that way.

I do think need should figure somewhere in there though.

I mean, if McCain can display that he needs $58k in addition to what he makes for whatever reason, fine. Who knows? maybe his wife's cut him off when it comes to financing his campaigns.

Cranky,
I'm not spitting on all those who haven't served, just those who beat a veteran over the head with his well-deserved benefits because they don't like his politics. We're not talking about a handout, we're talking about the government holding up its end of the contract that we sign when we raise our right hands. We EARN that money. It sickens me that people think it matters whether we need it or not. It's not welfare, it's part of our compensation package. To paraphrase COL Jessup (the villain in "a few good men"), "I would rather that they just said thank you and went on their way."
I understand what you're saying about there being good reasons for some not to accept the benefit. If you choose to fight to get back into uniform, you're shooting yourself in the foot by taking the money. In that case, you have to make a calculated decision not to take the money. I disagree with the theory that a dollar spent on one veteran's disability compensation is a dollar lost to another veteran's medical needs. If you don't take your $300 a month (or whatever you were entitled to), the VA won't ask for those $300 next year, it's as simple as that. Building hospitals, building knees, disability compensation, all of these are separate lines in the budget. Your choice not to take the money hasn't helped other veterans. It's only reduced the ammount of money the VA takes from the taxpayers every year.
abowhite45,
I'm in uniform in Iraq as I type this, earning future VA benefits.
CapitalK,
The Army needs people to serve an average of 6 years just to stay afloat. The bill in question might be good for people who want to do the minimum (you can't enlist for less than two years), but it's bad for America because it's bad for the Army. When the average Soldier stays in the Army less than 6 years, we can't fill the ranks. If we give out college educations in exchange for two years of service, where's the incentive to stay past two. It's basic negotiation. If I give you everything you want in exchange for a third of what I want, are you going to give me the other two thirds out of the goodness of your heart? Hardly. So what's wrong with scaling a veteran's rewards to the length of his service? If you start with a free bachelor's degree for two years service, I guess the six years that the government needs must be worth a PhD? What do you get for ten years? Twenty?

Greck,

I respectfully disagree. As I've stated before, VA disability isn't like the sort you file for down at the county courthouse. It's not welfare, it's not income replacement, it has absolutely nothing to do with income replacement. It's compensation for abilities that you had before you joined that you no longer have as a direct result of that service. A computer specialist who loses a leg in a rocket attack is entitled to compensation, even though he hasn't lost the ability to peck away at a keyboard.

I don't take disablity because I don't need it right now. Also, I just don't feel right about taking money that I don't earn. I guess that came from being raised by my grandfather. He was a WWII veteran that was injured, but still spent almost 50 years working on the railroad after coming back. He never asked for a thing. Another interesting fact was that two generals he worked under, offered to pay for college after the war was over. No strings attached. They wanted him to stay as well.

The idea of not taking benefits also includes the fact that when any soldier is injured or disabled due to military service, the budgets are figured based on "possible" claims and what they "may" pay out in benefits. So as long at that possiblity is there, the money is taken in consideration. They just move unclaimed money to a different colum as needed.

But still, McCain served, and should be compensated for his service. But so should all veterans. Regardless of amount of time served.

By the way. If you enlist for even a 2 year term of active duty, you are obligated to a full 8 years of active duty if deemed necessary. You have to read the contract. That is what it was when I was a recruiter.

Matt -

I understand the retention problems - my wholehearted concern if for those who can't do the required time because of injuries that make it impossible for them to return to active duty and need retraining or education to live productive lives. There should be something that addresses that need. :>)

Thank you for your service.

Cranky,

The 8 year thing is still in place. And it will never be used unless the east coast is invaded. You and I know that every enlistee signs a contract for eight years, but 75% of Americans (or more) wouldn't see the difference between invoking that clause and a draft. There would be riots. On the other topic, you're right about the "possible claims" bit...except that that only holds during the year the initial claim is made. Every year after that, the claim is built into the budget. So not filing a $300 a month claim saves $3600 for other things exactly once. And that $3600 might well be spent on landscaping.

But the Swift Boat Veterans were lying. They weren't telling the truth.

But the Swift Boat Veterans were lying. They weren't telling the truth.

I guess that is why John Kerry never went after that $1M dollars that T. Boone Pickens offered up for anyone who could prove they lied.

Probably because they can recognize a scam when they see it. Why give publicity to an attention hound, like Kent Hovind and his $250,000 evolution challenge?

yeah I suggest you refresh your knowldeg on the so called million dolalr challenge.
he renigged after kerry accepted the challenege.

you remember that?? the challeneg was to prove one lie and then all of a sudden the rules change.. which is what we have come to expect fromt he gop.. remember "if anyone in my administartion was involved witht eh valrie plame leak they will no longer be part of my administration" well until we change the rules.
spaceguy I see you don't mind rewrittign history once again.

Sorry Joulsey but you left out the best part:

Pickens said such documentation, which the group has previously sought, would be needed to disprove its ads.

"When you have done so, if you can then prove anything in the ads was materially untrue, I will gladly award $1 million. As you know, I have been a long and proud supporter of the American military and veterans' causes," Pickens wrote.

So in other words when Kerry refused to provide the proof, the deal was off. Kerry never did provide any proof, period.

Yeah, there are a lot of homeless Viet Nam era vets who were never diagnosed because it was unmanly to admit that the horrors witnessed and participated in had made any impression at all. I had thought that after the way the Viet Nam vets were more or less ignored, the government would have stepped up and realized what had been done to a generation or two of our Vets and made corrections accordingly.

I'd hate to think that someone is telling the VA doctors to ignore symptoms (PTSD, agent orange) to save money. To say nothing of the badly injured or affected who are discharged to go home to places where there is no VA facility for hundred of miles or where no mental health clinic exists.

A sad state of affairs.

Disability benefits are for someone who has a condition that limits or eliminates earning an income. McCain seems to have found a nice high paying job that can be done with his limitations. He should not be employed full time at full pay and collecting disability.

This is the crux of the matter, isn't it? well said, Pamela. I have never heard of someone virtually doing a full time job and still collecting money for being disabled. There is something not quite right there. He's either fit to be president, which means no disability money, or he is not, which means he collects his pension instead. 'Cake' and 'eat' come rapidly to mind.

Very simple people: Social Security disability is available to any worker unable to work, period, from 18-65. After 65 it becomes Social Security retirement. Military disability is compensation for service related injuries based on percentage of injury. Two different programs

I object to the use of the word "entitlement". It's technically correct, but it makes it sound like welfare. He EARNED that money, just as I will have earned every friggin cent the government pays me when I retire. The question of whether or not he can get by without that money is irrelevant and insulting. Bill Gates can get by without my $300...does that make it right for me to pirate a copy of Windows? Get a grip!

Where does it say disability benefits are only for income replacement? Let's say I'm a military communications specialist. My job is to sit on my butt in front of a computer screen. My leg is blown off in a rocket attack. I haven't lost the ability to do my job. Should I get disability? I'm still fully employable, as having two good legs is completely irrelevant to my work. Disability payments are for loss of ability, not for loss of employability. Big difference.

I agree with you completely, Matt. But, does the person who is a productive member of society, paying taxes, raising a family, working two jobs to make ends meet who suffers a spinal cord injury not deserve entitltement. Yeah, I used entitlement to strike a nerve. I also said from the very start of my post that he is deserving of respect.

But, what about the postal worker? What about the school teacher or the librarian? And, you are correct. Entitlements shouldn't be based on income; therefore, we should not assume that somone who is living at the poverty line is more undeserving than someone who has had the opportunity to serve his or her community and/or country in more overt ways.

Bill Gates can get by without my $300...does that make it right for me to pirate a copy of Windows? Get a grip!

This is a really bad analogy and does not apply to what I am saying. No one is stealing anything. I am not basing the argument on whether or not he deserves the money.

I am merely saying that some entitlement programs are worthy and respectful, and if you are running on a platform that says they are not, then perhaps you should cancel yours. The fact that he has 40 million dollars doesn't make him less deserving of the money; it makes him more capable of giving it up to demonstrate his political position.

I think that he deserves every penny of that money!! I would never question that, especially never having served in the military. But, if someone is goning to remove the splinter from his borther's eye; perhaps he should remove the log from his own.

Well...you can influence the percentage of disability the VA assigns you, and you can fight not to be disqualified from further military service.

I can see where you might not be able to turn down the money...a decent lawyer could later claim that you rejected the payment because it wasn't enough...and that you are owed back payments at a higher rate, or some other such nonsense. It makes sense for the government to say "you have to take this money, and by taking it, you indemnify us against any further claim for compensation related to the covered disabilities."

You're right, though, being "in good health" and "not being disabled" are not the same. I wouldn't exactly call my sister's husband, an amputee, "sick".

Wow, all those injuries and he was still able to womanize.

He's amazing. Really!

You know Jay Rockefeller did not take a salary while governor of West Virginia and paid for some of the functions he sponsored out of his own pocket.

It's not about paying his dues. It's about the law. LEGALLY disabled means unable to work. See my link below.

Fair enough. I may have painted a broader stroke because of the military service. Point well taken.