Disclosure of McCain's Tax-Free Disability Pension May Raise Fitness Questions

[Emit]

Is this going to hurt McCain or help him in the GE?

John McCain Gets Tax-Free Disability Pension

The disclosure of the Navy benefit for injuries incurred as a Vietnam POW may raise fitness questions.
By Ralph Vartabedian, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
April 22, 2008

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%.

If McCain had to pay taxes on the full amount of the pension, it would have increased his tax bill by about $18,000 based on the percentage of his income he paid to the federal government.

McCain spent 5 1/2 years as a prisoner of war in Hanoi. After he was released in 1973, he returned home on crutches and began a painful physical rehabilitation. He later regained flight status and commanded a Navy squadron before retiring from the service in 1981.

McCain would be the oldest man to enter the White House if he is elected president, and questions have been raised about his health.

McCain has twice developed melanoma, a potentially deadly form of skin cancer.

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

~snip~

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/politics/la-na-pension22apr22,1,2872446.story

[patrice]

1. Why did he retire? There's, what?, 2 admirals in his family. What happened to that legacy?

Military families with legacies like that usually maintain them. What happened?

So he's taking the disability pension, getting Social Security, and he's married to one of the wealthiest women in the country. Just how much IS enough?

Also, what are his charitable donation like?

[MADem]

8. He was a total PITA--it's why he didn't make flag.

0-6 pay is nothing to sneeze at, though.

I think that Navy pay goes to Carol, his first wife. He's still paying her alimony, I believe.

He's also getting his Senate salary.

He and Cindy have a prenup--she keeps her dough separate, and she files separately from him. You aren't going to see HER tax returns.

Here's the info on his tax returns--the actual returns are at the link: http://www.slate.com/id/2189578/entry/0/

On April 18, John McCain released his 1040 forms for tax years 2006 and 2007. They show an adjusted income of $339,000 and $386,000, respectively (see below and Page 3). McCain paid $97,000 in taxes for 2006 and $118,000 for 2007 (Pages 2 and 4).

The tax returns of candidates Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton showed each receiving about $500,000 in royalties from their memoirs. McCain's literary efforts brought in about half as much—$257,000 in 2006 and 2007—though it should be remembered that McCain has by now written many more books than either Democratic contender and that his best-selling memoir, Faith of My Fathers, was released way back in 1999. In any case, one should resist concluding from McCain's tax returns that he's the pauper of the bunch. It seems that way only because he chose the IRS option "married filing separately," which allows him to exclude the income of his wife, heiress Cindy H. McCain. (Obama and Clinton's returns were filed jointly, and therefore reflect the incomes of their respective spouses, Michelle and Bill.) The combined salaries of Sen. and Mrs. McCain are disclosed, however, because Arizona, where the McCains legally reside, is a community property state where married couples who file separate returns are nonetheless required to report and pay state taxes on one-half of any income "acquired through the efforts" of their spouses (minus one-half of each partner's deductible expenses). For the two recent years, McCain reported his half of the $870,000 in salary his wife brought in as chairman of Hensley & Company, a family-owned beer distributorship (see Pages 5 and 6). He deducted his half of $115,00 in employment taxes for more than $400,000 in wages to household staff. Presumably, Cindy McCain also receives considerable investment income that she is required to disclose only in her own tax returns, which McCain did not make public.

Apart from Cindy's salary and her undisclosed investment earnings, the lion's share of McCain's cash receipts for the period came from the federal government: untaxed military retirement pay of more than $56,000 per year and annual wages of roughly $165,000 for representing the citizens of Arizona in the U.S. Senate. The 71-year-old McCain also draws about $20,000 a year in Social Security income.

[MADem]

2. Well, of COURSE he does. He can't lift his arms past his shoulders.

He can't even comb his own hair without an "assistive" comb. He has to have someone else do it, AND fix his collar, and so forth, on the campaign trail. His knees are shot, too. Many of his teeth were knocked out when he had the shit kicked out of him by the North Vietnamese, too.

Disability pensions are routinely awarded for injuries of that nature. It's not even surprising. What would be surprising is if he DIDN'T get any disability for his injuries. That's explained towards the end of this article you cite.

I wouldn't go there, without proof of "MENTAL" lack of fitness.

If you go off in that direction, you come off as an intolerant asshole who hates the disabled. That's unhelpful, particularly since we are the party that supports social programs.

People seem to forget that one of our greatest Presidents was in a wheelchair, and more physically compromised than McCain.

JFK had many illnesses, and was on medication--including uppers and downers--out the ying-yang. He was hopped up like crazy: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2002/11/17/national/main529661.shtml

Slippery slope.

[Emit]

3. As a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor who has worked with & advocated for numerous disabled Vets

I am fully aware of disability pensions that are awarded for military connected and combat injuries.

I quoted from the article I cited (Disability Pension May Raise Fitness Questions).

I merely asked for DUers opinions as to whether they felt it would hurt or help him in the GE, as the article implies.

[MADem]

4. I'm not suggesting that you, personally, have a horse in the "Disabled Popeye" race.

I'm simply saying that the GENERIC you, as in you all out there, need to step carefully around this matter.

It's a potential landmine.

For example, two words: Max Cleland.

I wouldn't touch it with a forty foot pole, myself, particularly if his disability was based largely on his physical injuries. Unless it comes out that he sees shit that isn't there, and needs a hefty cocktail of drugs to keep the demons away, I see it as a meanspirited nonstarter, that the GOP will use to paint the Democrats as a bunch of Lefty commie chickens who spit on our troops. We just don't need that kind of stuff.

[Emit]

10. I thought you might have thought

that in posting this article, I was suggesting we should go after McCain on this. The reason I heard about this, though, is that twice in the last two days, I have heard people mention that they had read or heard of this disclosure he made about his disability, and were shocked to learn that he rec'd 100% tax-free disability pension. In both cases, the people noted that they were totally unaware of how disabled he actually was, and that, coupled with his bouts with cancer, they were concerned about his health in terms of being able to serve out his term if he were, (God forbid), to become president.


At any rate, I see exactly where you are coming from MADem, particularly in regards to this part of your post: "... the GOP will use to paint the Democrats as a bunch of Lefty commie chickens who spit on our troops..."

Edited to add, I do think it is in the public's best interest, however, to be fully aware of his disability and health.

[MADem]

16. No, not at all--darn these internets, it's sometimes tough to be clear on a message board!

I realized you were just posting the paper's article--I was doing the generic "Danger Will Robinson!" on the issue, becuase it's a dog that won't hunt, and the accusation has a heavy blowback danger associated with it.

He's released his physicals in the past, and been very upfront about the torture he underwent and what it did to him, physically (emotional damage is a different story, though). I just don't think we can "win" by trying to suggest that he's "too crippled" to serve.

His temper, though--now there's a vulnerable spot. That one's quite exploitable, I think, especially if we can find people willing to talk about some of his explosions. He used to be a real jerk when he was up at OLA after he came back from Hanoi, and from everything I've heard, it hasn't gotten better over the years.

[locker13]

5. this story is really really dumb

[Emit]

6. "...really really dumb"?

Care to explain why?

[locker13]

19. becuase

its dumb politically becuase it emphasizes his only real strength in this election and its dumb to question disablity paymets of a POW and its dumb legally becuase there is nothing wrong with recieving disablitiy payments if you are actually disabled which Mccain is

[Emit]

20. No one is questioning his disability payments

At least I'm not, that is. I think you misunderstood the article and my intent of posting it.

Edited to add: At least I'm not, that is.

[ruby slippers]

7. well, all I know is.....

the next time I am up for my Disability Review, I will use McCain's name and play the same game then. Thanks for this info!

He gets 23,000 and a pension, plus he is married to an heiress. (MaDem, sounds like we had this discussion before, huh?)

Anyway,I can't use my right arm over my head, too. I used to teach and was assaulted in the classroom by a student and suffered a brain injury and damaged arm. I could no longer write on the chalkboard, so they gave me a little less than 10,000 a year to live on. But, McCain, who gets over twice as much, wants to do away with Social Security now.

I'd sure like to see HIM live on 23,000!!!!! (or less!)

Sending this off to Keith.....

[MADem]

9. Wow, you haven't had it easy. What a measley pension for YOUR service.

I have the greatest respect for teachers and nurses. I think that they're poorly supported in many instances. Sure, there are schools and hospitals here and there that are cushy places to work, but those situations are rare. The majority of teachers and nurses have a rough slog and aren't fairly compensated for their labor. And, as in your instance, they aren't always kept safe, either.

[ruby slippers]

12. thanks, the student was all of 10 years old.....she SHE....was

going after a bi-racial boy in this affluent white suburb school in NE Florida who was holding the door open for me. Long story short, she slammed the door on him, caught me, thought it was funny and slammed it again and held us in the steel-doorjam....

The school board lawyers got involved and called it an "assault" and did settle with me for a year's salary. But, after surgery and untold brain scans, they advised that I should not return to the classroom. I had 12 years under my belt so the pension that came with it was almost a moot point and already spent.

The boy got detention for causing a commotion and the girl (whose father did the air conditioning at the school) got nothing and the father got a renewed contract.

I tired subbing two years ago and returning to the workforce but it was rough and the bottom line was that the little money I made cost me in income taxes in the end. So, I am back on the disability as I near official retirement age.

Thanks for the support, though. Yes, teaching is an underpaid appreciation. One of my daughters already left and doubled her salary, my son-in-law left (he went into nursing, go figure, graduates in two days) and his wife, my other daughter is leaving the profession as soon as he starts his new job.

Me? I guess I'm gonna go hike the canyon now....if McCain can do it, I guess I can.. Just kidding!

[symbolman]

11. after Nam I worked in a VA hospital for a year

took care of 300 vets who'd been scared shitless by war, a lot, most, were unable to communicate, so my job was to read their case histories and observe them for any signs of physical distress, pain..

I'm now an "empath" and try to avoid large crowds, I can literally see pain on the hoof..

I have a real problem with him shitting on other vets when he votes like a goddam Republican, and anyone who's been tortured should in my opinion be Against It.

I am scared to death this guy is cracked and will "get even", kill a lot of people, especially since it will also make his pals rich.

I believe him to have Rage Issues and unsuitable for the office.

Having had part of his head scooped out doesn't sit well with me, a recurring cancer a quarter inch from his brain does not bode well.. Just keeping it real, one Veteran to another.

[Emit]

17. Hey, symbolman

I appreciate you keeping it real. I am sorry that others may have mistook my post for advocating that we attack McCain because of his disabilities or about his military/POW related disability.

Anyway, as you point out, I think voters should look very carefully into his accumulated physical condition (his melanoma actually concerns me most, that coupled with his age) and his mental stability. If these reports of outbursts are true, then there is a possibility that there is more going on there with him than mere anger.

Also, I should point out that my FIL is a Vietnam Vet, too. He himself sees things similarly to what you are saying. That shit affected a lot of people, as you well know. And you don't walk away from years as a POW with those kinds of injuries and not be affected to some degree psychologically. My FIL is also concerned about McCain's selling out to Bush, and lost a lot of respect for McCain when he started hugging on Bush at rallies, and later, adopting Bush's policies.

I appreciate your services to our country, and that must have been a very difficult job at the VA hospital. I recall one Vet I worked with -- he was determined to get a job but from day to day, he just wasn't 'there' (TBI, PTSD, etc.) One day he came in with a package -- he was so proud to show me his beret that he had worn and pictures of himself in Nam and Cambodia, Special Ops. Anyway, he was sure to point out all the blood stains. My heart goes out ... I can't thank you enough for enduring not only your own burdens in war, but what you did for those Vets --

edited to add words

[symbolman]

18. Thanks, and same backatcha!

yeah, I used to get these guys new clothes, teeth, glasses, training, and a job with a halfway house to come home to, and maybe a month later a gurney would roll in with a disheveled guy on it that looked Nothing like what I'd sent out into the world with hope..

Remember, when Bush was running against McCain they were all screaming that he had a screw loose from the War, maybe someone should dig up their Own Words and use them, for the good of the country..

I think there's a big difference between say, FDR being in a Wheelchair, Eisenhower (who warned of the Military Industrial Complex) and a veteran who wasted five planes, was derided by other Veterans for it, and even JOKES about obliterating a whole country...

Wait a minute, that's Clinton :)

But you get my drift...

Funny thing is, is that the country as it stands is NOT the same country *I* Swore to Defend in the Military, how can it be so for McCain?

Cancer is a huge issue, especially recurrent at his age, and I don't see anyone touching that one... WHERE are McCain's medical records?

Thanks for the reply, and for bringing up all issues...

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

13. he can't raise his arms up because of the torture he received in Viet Nam

yes, he is disabled to a degree because of that.

If you can't raise your arms, thats a disability.

Whether he should still accept the pension or not is another thing, but
he's not doing anything illegal.

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

14. arguing this is like saying Max Cleland cant serve because he's a triple amputee

this argument indicates a grasping to attack in the worst kind of way.

Attack his policies. Not him.

[Emit]

15. As an advocate for persons with disabilities

I don't disagree necessarily. I advocate often on behalf of a person with a disability in terms of their ability to perform a job if it appears that they are physically and mentally able to perform the job duties and tasks assigned.

I am not advocating an attack on him based on him receiving a disability pension, or having a disability -- please, as I explained above to MADem, I have worked with and advocated for many disabled Vets and, in general, thousands of disabled individuals. Obviously, his policies should be the prime focus.

However, one of my duties as a VRC is to determine what jobs are suited to individuals based on their physical and/or mental disability condition(s), whereby the job duties of the job are examined in relation to the ability of the person to perform those duties.

Given his age, his accumulated disabilities, which includes melanoma, a potentially deadly form of skin cancer, his reported outbursts of anger ... these all factor into whether he is fit to be president, which is a very stressful job, to say the least. The job ages people (although Ronnie doesn't look much different below and I never knew Clinton had green hair or that Bush's hair and skin are now gray!):




http://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/popup?id=4205015&contentIndex=1&start=false&page=2

As I noted in an above post, I overheard two occasions in the last two days of people bringing McCain's health issues up as a concern. I think it is a fair question for voters to ask or to be curious about when it comes to electing their president.