John McCain: On 100% Navy disability pension but fit enough for White House?

Last summer, amid staff disarray and fractured finances, most people wrote off the presidential hopes of Arizona Rep. Sen. John McCain. The 71-year-old pointed out he had recently hiked the Grand Canyon with a son and vowed to "out-campaign" them all.

He did just that. Now he is the presumptive GOP nominee. And as such he released his 2007 income taxes last Friday. Disclosed separately was pension income of $58,358 that went untaxed.

Monday, McCain’s staff identified the retirement benefit to The Times' Ralph Vartabedian as a “disability pension” and said the candidate “was retired as disabled because of his limited body movements due to injuries as a POW.”

During the Vietnam war in 1967 McCain was shot down over Hanoi and in the ejection from his crashing plane and beating by his captors he suffered a shattered knee and two broken arms, which went untreated during his resulting five-and-a-half years of imprisonment and torture.

He was released in 1973, arrived home on crutches to begin a long painful rehabilitation and eventually returned to duty as a squadron commander before retiring in 1981. His knee still bothers him in cold weather, McCain has written.

And he cannot raise either arm above his shoulder. The Navy has classified him as 100% disabled, which makes the pension taxfree. So is there a disparity and health concern in a White House candidate, who if elected would be the oldest man ever inaugurated president, also receiving a 100% disability military pension?

"Tortured for his country," McCain senior advisor Mark Salter said tonight. "That is how he acquired his disability."

Vartabedian explores the issue in a story on this website later tonight and in Tuesday's print editions.

--Andrew Malcolm

                                                        Photo Credit: VietnamWar.com

Comments

[Jim]

Excuse me!
Check the V.A. Website and please find any disability rating that pays a veteran $58,000 a year!

Posted by: James Wilson | May 23, 2008 at 08:00 AM

___________________

Are you saying that John McCain falsified his tax return too?

[Jay]

If I were to collect a 100% disability and pulled in a full time pay I'd find myself in court. People who are saying he deserves the money or trying to divert the attention away from the facts by using his wifes wealth are blindly missing the point. Can't wait to hear the explanation for McCain's "Double-Talk" Express.

[Jill]

Remmber the disabilities of FDR who couldn't walk, and JFK who had debilitating back pain.

As far as I am concerned McCain EARNED that pension and deserves more than $58,000 a year!

If you wnat to shed some light on things, look at the pensions and perks Congress is entitled to. How about doing a story on the lousy job they are doing.

Posted by: T Basford | April 24, 2008 at 01:26 PM

___________________________

Do you know the difference between a pension and disability pay? Do some research and stick to the point.

[Dawn]

I can't believe McCain receives $58,000+ a year in disability and didn’t even show up to vote on the new GI Bill. I guess helping other vets just wasn't worth wasting his time on. We have homeless vets. We have vets who can't obtain mental health care and are committing suicide at an alarming rate. We have vets who can't even obtain basic health care. Meanwhile, this man is willing to accept his disability pension, but won't fight to improve the lives of other vets. He may have been a hero once, but now he's just another Republican hypocrite. As McCain would say, my friends, that’s not change we can believe in. If you want to meet a real hero go and find former Senator Max Cleeland.

[joseph weaver]

As a veteran,Imust speak up for senator mcCain. 5 years of hell in hanoi, Only to come home and with utter disregard for his own health, he served this country beyond the call of duty. I am a democrat, but as a vetI am tired of the McCain bashing. I would say he deserves every cent of his disability pension. The Hanoi Hilton was a place that I would not wish my worst enemy to have to go too. God Bless all of our veterans. And may God Bless this Country of ours"The United States of America".

[Michael]

My father received a partial disablity payment for his injuries on Iwo Jima and now my mother receives part of that because of the PTSD that he suffered. I think that John McCain should receive the benefit if he needs it. In other words when your income is in the millions(with his wifes) the gov. should limit the payout in favor of more needy vets or their spouses because of lost income from their injuries. McCain probably has alot of aches and pains from his injuries but that should not preclude him from running for president. But he should take the lead and look into the laws on disabilty payments so that more needy vets get the help they deserve instead of voting no on veterans benefits.

[Marine]

Don't care what he gets, BUT if he is considered 100% disabled by anyone the voter has a right to see the medical info and reasons he was diagnosed as 100% to quantify his fitness for POTUS. He isn't qualitfied if he is hiding his records. It is hard to get 100%, many seemingly much worse then John don't get 100%, is any of the !00% based on mental issues which would disqualify him for POTUS.

[Carol Davidek-Waller]

I'm not so worried about McCain's arms or legs but about his mental capacities. He sounds a lot like Reagan who was in the early stages of Alzhiemers. His behavior is very erratic and his memory seems to be failing.
Roosevelt's illness did not diminish his mental capacity.
The world is miuch more dangerous place today. Mistakes have dire consequences. Having another mental deficient in office for four years is not an option.
FYI comparing disability pensions and social security is comparing apples and oranges.
The gentleman who compared McCains pension and social security is off base.
You pay into social security. It's your money. A military pension is tax payer's money.
Collecting a pension based on complete disabilty when the person isn't disabled is fraud.
If the Air Force were on the ball they would have cut the pension years ago.
If McCain were an honorable man he would have refused it.

[John McKenzie]

I give up. I've explained in the utmost detail the differences between a Navy retirement, a Navy disability retirement, and a VA disability rating. And very few people who continue to post on this forum seem to care to read what I have written. So be it.

[Active Navy]

John,

I understand what you are saying. If the Navy gave me a 100% disability rating, it could change to 30% or something by the VA. I can understand that some have dificulty understanding that just because you are classed as 100% does not mean you are an invalid. One thing I haven't noticed being metioned is that you can be up to 195% disabled, that is the absolute maximum. The percentage does not mean that is how capable you are.

[Steven Wabash]

The article claims McCain is 100% Disabled because he can't raise his arms above his shoulders but there are pictures of him waving with his hands and arms above his shoulders and smiling all over the internet from the time he was released as a POW until now, his Presidential election. Can anyone explain that?

Here is one example

http://cache.viewimages.com/xc/78840773.jpg?v=1&c=ViewImages&k=2&d=17A4AD9FDB9CF1930379C2D113B8FB2A993E9EABAF17EC7A284831B75F48

[Carl Stout]

Steven,

Here is a better picture than the one you posted. He's raising both of his arms high above his head smiling.

I would be interested in knowing if McCain ever released his DD Form 214 so we can see his discharge code and reson for retirement.

http://www.jamd.com/image/g/1591797

[Susan Dey Thomas]

John,

Title 10, U.S.C., chapter 61, provides the Secretaries of the Military Departments with authority to retire or separate members when the Secretary finds that they are unfit to perform their military duties because of physical disability.

If McCain was medically retired because he was unfit to perform military duties, how can he become commander in chief if he was declared unfit for duty?

[Paul Del Chiaro]

Senator John McCain should be compensated for his Service connected disabilities, but we should be made aware of what these disabilities are!, as a Vietnam Vet I find it interesting that he is getting 100% disability, they state that he would have to be bed ridden or unable to function normallly in the work place, I would not consider a veteran without limbs, burns etc receiving less of a disability the Senator McCain, but the fact is they are not getting 100% disability, ask retired Gen Alaxender Hagg, he also collects disability on his pension, I wonder some time about this disparity, as for the medals given to McCain, all POWs received the same awards.........

[Michael Sandberg]

Hello,

I am an Army Officer, and I must admit I am shocked and dissapointed by the revelations over the disability rating of 100% and his tax-free pension of $58k+.

I have heard a significant numbers of reasons cited, but here are a few corrections:

1) His COLA and annual increases account for some of the change - not really. The fact is that we have a ready reserve and a retired reserve. As he is unfit for duty, he would be classified as retired reserve - his pension should be fixed with COLA.

2) 100% disability in the service is reasonable and fair compensation for his experience - once again, not really. I have several friends who have lost limbs, and are hurt quite badly and permanently. Additionally, all disability ratings connected to services (whether Army, Navy, or VA) are based upon capability. Make no mistake, if someone without the proper connections was partcipating in a fraction of the endeavors that McCain has, he/she would have their rating reviewed and stripped.

Having said that: I acknowledge that McCain is a cheat who is gaming the system - I'm still voting for him.

[lulu]

It's the hypocrisy that gets me. He is fine with his tax-free disability pension but he wouldn't support the GI Bill that would be good for other soldiers who are also putting their lives on the line for us!
In other government agencies if you are 100% Disabled and you are collecting disability you have to keep proving that you are not able to work. The OIG comes out and films you...and should they catch you hiking the Grand Canyon! You will be charged with fraud.
Kind of like that body builder fireman in Massachusetts!
To me...it is fraud.
And, let's talk about Prop 13 and how his condo at LaJolla Shores has low taxes (7,000 for four years???)
Prop 13 was created so that people would not be taxed out of their homes.
I won't vote for a cheater!
Someone who works the system like that has something really wrong with him...
it's called lack of integrity bordering on sociopath because of the lack of conscience!

[Mghtycline]

Let's look at Team Obama donations for charities (Joe and the Pig Commentator) for the last ten years and let us look at Team McPalin and let the election be decided by which Team gave the most........we will also allow credit for any military time served........we must also consider National Guard Leadership (Palin is Alaska Nat Guard Chain of Command Leader) and John McCain EARNED retirement as a military service guy. We have the two Dim's with NO service credits and so very little given that they lose big time. Did any of our past Presidents give back Social Security benefits even tho they did not need that money, Ronald Reagan did his thing thru his wife's charities. Get a group of real bitter folks and you will see what losers look like.......Mightycline

[susan]

Is that the same amount the other disabled veterans recieve? You know the ones who are in wheel chairs who can't walk at all. Or is it just the pow's?

[mattie]

For all of you who think its ok for mccain to mountain climb with his son and collect 100% disability: what would you say if it was obama?

[paula minger]

I would like to know if the 100% rating was due to injuries which caused UNEMPLOYABLITY. Or was it based on the formula the VA uses for injuries alone. I have a strong feeling McCain was given his disablity due to UNEMPLOYABLITY due to injuries.

I would how many of you know that Carol, his 1st wife lost all her ChampVA insurance and all of the small portion she was receiving while married. This is a dirty secrectthe Goverment does not want the public to know about.

[Ron Leighton]

As many do I would like to know why Sen. John McCain is not releasing any of his psychiatric records. will they show that he can explode into bizarre uncontrolled violent behavior using vulgar language and pushing bystanders aside.
If he can't control his temper while addressing the senate imagine what effect he would have on the U.N. conference or important meetings with other foreign presidents, prime ministers , diplomats, kings or queens and the like.
There are several sites that you should visit that show his uncontrollable temper. These lend merit to his bizarre behavior and to his associations during his tenure as U.S. Representative or U.S Senator. These site are "Vietnam Veterans Against John McCain", " Sen. McCain wants to be president"and " John McCain's Skeleton Closet". Interesting.
If he is suffering from PDSD then this could be the reason he seems so out of touch and flip flops so consistently. After looking into his behavior it does not appear as though his mind is steady or stable.
heck forget how the next president should have a steady hand they should have a steady mind.
In my opinion John McCain is not a Maverick he's just nuts.

[Gary G. Wilson]

Being 100% disabled and drawing military retirement I was told if I went back to work I would lose my disablity.????How can senator Mccain draw both and still work full time in the senate.

[Fawn]

I don't begrudge the man his disability pension, but the fact that I've seen my fellow gulf war vets living in the streets thanks to his "no" votes makes him a hypocrite in my eyes.

[Curt the Independent]

For those of you attacking John McCain for his accepting disability pay, saying he could help others with the money, I would point out that Barack Steve Obama has spent almost $600 MILLION on his campaign.

I wonder how many people that $600 MILLION could have helped? Obama didn't even earn that money by putting his life on the line for this country. He has no wounds at all to show for his uncontested run for State Senate, and his playing of the race card during this election.

In fact, none of his ancestors were even slaves...he is AFRICAN. If anything, his ancestors were likely Slave OWNERS and traders in Africa.

I am also a disabled veteran. 40% disabled from 20 years service as a medic, fighting for YOUR right to be ignorant and say the first stupid thing that pops into your empty heads.

Just thank John McCain for his service and go watch Survivor.

[Tony the Indie]

I am a retired disabled vet receiving both retirement pay and VA Disability.

The only question I have is this:

100% VA disability is $2500 per month tax free. Thats $30,000 a year. Navy retirement is not tax free on the federal level- and they are considered different incomes.
How then does McCain get over $54k a yr?
Keep in mind now that rank is NOT taken into consideration for the monetary value of disability- everyone gets the same according to your disability percentage.

Very interesting indeed.

In other areas it is probable that McCain has at least 10% disability which stems from the mind...