McCain gets $1,930 a month from 'broken' Social Security system

[unapatriciated]

Republican presidential candidate John McCain cashes his monthly Social Security checks despite calling the federal program "a disgrace," the Associated Press reports.

"I'm receiving benefits," McCain told campaign reporters, but added, "the system is broken."

In 2007, he received benefits of $23,157 from Social Security, approximately $1,930 a month. The maximum monthly benefit under Social Security is $2,185. Social Security benefits are determined by age at retirement.

McCain, who is 71, has received benefits since he was 65.

Last week, McCain told observers at a town-hall meeting in Portsmouth, Ohio, "Americans have got to understand that we are paying present-day retirees with the taxes paid by young workers ... and that's a disgrace."

http://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/stories/2008/07/14/daily79.html

McCain thinks it' a disgrace but has no problem getting his.
just like a repug he is entitled but the rest of us working stiffs can just suck it up.
His SS check is more than our combined income.
More than double of what the average disabled american recieves.

:puke: :banghead: :grr:

[sakabatou]

1. Aw fuck, there goes my irony meter

[unapatriciated]

12. My son is on disability due to a very serious illness....

If he were to marry his long term GF (she earns less than 20 grand a year and has a child to support) he would lose almost all of his benefits and that includes medical, yet McCain's wife has a very hefty nest egg that doesn't seem to affect him not only collecting SS but two types of military disability checks.

[sakabatou]

21. I know

I have a major disability (brain damage), but I can't find work right now. So unfortunately, I have to covered by my parents.

[TexasObserver]

26. This is the problem with McCain's benefits. It's his hypocrisy.

It's the way the system is not administered fairly.

Most of the really fully disabled people in America fight for benefits, and they don't get the $58,000 for full disability that McCain gets, on top of his $23,000 for Social Security. McCain games the system, and then wails about the money that goes to truly needy and deserving citizens.

And he has never once in his life, from cradle until now, had anything but 100% health care, provided by the federal government.

[TwilightGardener]

2. He should return all that he's been paid over the years, if it's soooo disgraceful.

[Aviation Pro]

3. Pardon me, Senator Angry Old Prick....

...but that's the way it has always worked, you fucking old fart. Oh, if it's broken, give the money back.

..."Last week, McCain told observers at a town-hall meeting in Portsmouth, Ohio, "Americans have got to understand that we are paying present-day retirees with the taxes paid by young workers ... and that's a disgrace."

[Coexist]

4. is that separate from his disability?

[unapatriciated]

8. yes

"When vets come home with traumatic brain injury, they don't receive an annual pension worth over $58K, why should John McCain? "

http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.jsp?articleId=281474977364318&nav=Namespace

edited to add this link

"HOWEVER, the most hypocritical part of McCain’s criticism of the Social Security system is that, as a Senator, McCain receives more than $161,000 per year, McCain also receives a POW lifetime monthly pension (which he is entitled to) and McCain receives a monthly military disability pension (which he also entitled to) BUT McCain ALSO RECEIVES MORE THAN $2,300 a month FOR A SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFIT, HIMSELF. John McCain is essentially a government QUADRUPLE DIPPER, not to mention his wife’s more than 100 million dollar nest egg."

http://www.itsyourtimes.com/?q=node/3781

[Coexist]

10. hypocrite, thy name is McCain.

[mediaman007]

5. The disgrace is that Republicans and Democrats in Congress have spent

the money that beneficiaries paid in, on wars and tax breaks for the wealthy. McCain didn't utter a peep.

[unapatriciated]

14. yep and now they want it all

[liberal N proud]

6. Why is he drawing Social Security?

He claims it's broke and he wants to fix it. Start by paying back what you got from it. Call it a donation to your country.

I am sure in the rich world he lives in $23K annually isn't going to be missed.

[unapatriciated]

25. I'd gladly support his drawing social security...

if he would truly retire

[leftynyc]

7. If the MSM would do their freaking jobs

Their first question would be why he accepts SS money (which he could turn down) if it's such a disgrace and also since his wife make $6 million last year.

[KansDem]

9. Plus, isn't US Senator a full-time job?

So, he receives:

$$$ from Social Security
$$$ from disability
$$$ from his work as US Senator
$$$ from his wife (nothing wrong with this but wouldn't this have a factor on his SS payments?)

[Skidmore]

11. As if he really needs it.

Some enterprising town hall participant should ask him about this and about the elderly who rely on SS as a sole source of income, especially those who lost pensions when corporations like Enron defrauded or mismanaged their business so a few wealthy people could rake in the dough in their private accounts.

[unapatriciated]

13. We need to keep hammering this point by...

writing to our local papers, e-mailing all the major news networks. McCain is not just a "double" dipper he is a "quadruple" dipper and will also be eligible for benefits when he retires from the senate

[zbdent]

15. so wait ... he's pulling in $2k / month

and yet, you pay a "flat tax" once your salary gets past $87K?

Doesn't that mean he's pulling in at least twice the amount that he would have put in?

And, if he's "retired", why is he in the Senate? I mean, that's his JOB, right?

[dflprincess]

16. How nice that he could "retire" at 65

When I got my annual statement from SS this year, I noticed the difference in what my estimated benefit will be if I retire at 70 as opposed to 66 is nearly $300.00 - all of which will probably go toward a Medicare suppliment policy.

[greenbriar]

17. I thought you had to be retired? Isn't he making too much as a senator to receive?

hubby's grandpa had to be really careful about the hours he worked putting bikes together so he didn't go over and risk his SS?

[rucky]

18. That won't even cover the interest on his credit cards.

He should marry rich.

[unapatriciated]

19. but but he did marry rich and that is only one check of several.....

he also collects two types of military disability checks not to mention the pay and perks of being a senator.

read up thread for a link to McCain's "quadruple dipping". Yet many of our disabled can not supplement their measly $800-$1200 a month checks without losing a good portion of them.

[Barack_America]

20. This should please the Republican base...

After all, getting theirs and screwing everybody else is the core of their philosophy.

He is truly one of them, after all. (though I'm certain none of us here ever doubted this point)

[Hawkeye-X]

22. What a ripoff. I get $1,171.00

and I should be getting the equivalent as McSame!!!

[AZBlue]

23. My parents combined don't even get that much.

This makes me so ANGRY.

[tsuki]

24. He gets $58,358.00 disability from his time as a POW. Non-Taxable.

http://articles.latimes.com/2008/apr/22/nation/na-pension22