"The disclosure of the Navy benefit for injuries incurred as a Vietnam POW may raise fitness questions," says the sub-headline of the article.
Here's some common frickin' sense and empathy for the writer of the article, Ralph Vartabedian: John McCain was tortured as a POW for over half a decade. He could have gone home shortly after being captured, but chose not to -- out of a sense of honor and fairness to other POWs, especially those captured before him.
McCain cannot fully lift his arms as a result of those years of torture. This doesn't, as Vartabedian implies at his column's beginning, contradict McCain's claim that "he is in robust health and is strong enough to hike the Grand Canyon," not does it lessen any his claim to the disability pension. Again, the MAN WAS TORTURED FOR YEARS, for cripe's sake!
"It is a legitimate question to ask about the commander in chief: Is he fit to serve," said Robert Schriebman, a senior Pentagon tax advisor and tax attorney who recently retired as a judge advocate for a unit of the California National Guard.If McCain can hike across the Grand Canyon, then why should he be getting disability payments from the government that are tax-exempt, Schriebman asked.
Oh no! A Pentagon "tax adviser" who was a member of the National Guard. Wonder if this guy saw any combat and/or spent time as a POW. Sorry, Mr. White Collar Military Guy. Your opinion is worth about as much as that of these nincompoops. I also wonder if Schriebman (and Vartabedian) would be so "concerned" about the health (or disability pension) of an amputee, say, who was a liberal Democrat. After all, the amputee could have been fitted with a modern prosthetic which functions pretty much as a regular leg would. Would Schriebman and Vartabedian be questioning this person's disability payments -- because he could walk as well as normal person? Hah!
Unbelievable. A man is tortured for YEARS in the service of his country, but his disability pension is "questionable."
If you want to be concerned about anything regarding McCain's health, it ought to be the melanoma he has twice suffered. That's some scary stuff.
But they support the troops...
Posted by: Paul Smith at April 23, 2008 05:22 PMWhat a crock!! That's all we any of us need...some nincompoop(s) "questioning" military disability pensions! How dare anyone do this and decide what qualifies, to what degree a person ought to be disabled, wounded...either physically or psychologically, before qualifying for a pension which only helps allow them to provide the basics of living. They may think McCain may not 'need' it...but that's not for anyone to contemplate who has never worn combat boots for Uncle Sam. The man...and everyone else who served and suffered service-connected injury or illness...earned what he gets.
I believe you're on the money on this one, Hube...
Posted by: Nancy Cleveland at April 23, 2008 05:47 PMThanks, Nance. If there's anything that really peeves me, it's how we treat the military, especially vets. They should get the very best of care, better than anyone. Especially one who went through what McCain did...
Posted by: Hube at April 23, 2008 05:53 PMI saw this Hube. Just another piece of MSM crap - incredulous as you or I could be when reading.
These are the same people who never thought it was unusual or odd that one Vietnam vet got 3 Purple Hearts yet he never needed to stay overnight in the hospital or even needed one suture for his wounds.
Posted by: AJ Lynch at April 23, 2008 11:04 PMHube,
I guess you were making reference to former Senator Bob Kerry.
This LA Times tax moron would also disqualify FDR. Sheesh !
Posted by: Fred Gregory at April 24, 2008 12:37 PMLet's see now, receiving a pension for getting the crap kicked out of you for five years versus making millions on shady land deals and cattle futures or your wife getting top dollar for sitting on corporate boards? Just more evidence of the GOP culture of corruption, I guess.
Posted by: G Rex at April 25, 2008 10:41 AM