John McCain Gets Tax-free Disability Pension

[Lennon]

http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-na-pension22apr22,1,6562984.story

Sen. John McCain has long said he is in robust health and is strong enough to hike the Grand Canyon, but he also is receiving what his staff Monday termed a "disability pension" from the Navy.

When McCain released his tax return for 2007 on Friday, he separately disclosed that he received a pension of $58,358 that was not listed as income on his return.

On Monday, McCain's staff identified the retirement benefit as a "disability pension" and said that McCain "was retired as disabled because of his limited body movements due to injuries as a POW."

McCain campaign strategist Mark Salter said Monday night that McCain was technically disabled. "Tortured for his country -- that is how he acquired his disability," Salter said.

Certain types of military and veterans pensions are either partially or completely tax-exempt, depending on the seriousness of the disability. In McCain's case, the exemption is 100%.

[Me.]

1. Not To Mention

that he also collects the same social security he wants to privatize

[PoiBoy]

2. I'd sure like to see John McWayne...

...hike the Grand Canyon...

:rofl:

[bemildred]

3. "Entitlements" are OK for congresspersons and members of the ruling class. nt

[pscot]

4. That's part of the deal

when you sign up to get shot at for your country. Don't be envious. It's yours for the asking. Your local army recruiter can explain the fine print.

[BR_Parkway]

5. He earned this way before any other wealth or income, there is no

way I'm going to bash him about it. He paid a price for it very few of us would ever get asked and I don't care how ridiculous it seems compared to all him other income and mama's millions.

It's his - and one thing that we promise veterans that we apparently still live up to.

I'm sort of pissed this is even posted - there are plenty of things to bash McSame about in the up-coming campaign - anything negative or snidely reported related to his status as a veteran somewhat smears all the rest of us who served - and I'd love to not see anyone on DU go there.

[bemildred]

6. If you are the sort of person who thinks that everyone should have the benefits

that McCain enjoys, as I am, then it makes perfect sense to point out that he has them and is denying them to most of the rest of us. It's not a matter of bashing him for having them, it a matter of bashing him for not wanting to give them to the rest of us.

[dazzlerazzle]

7. McCain disability

Nothing at all wrong about the disability pension, but there have been many horror stories about the "enlisted" (or drafted) people having to fight like hell to keep a full disability.