To the editor:

Presidential hopeful John McCain has recently released his health record and tax records to the public. McCain has long said he is in robust health and strong enough to hike the Grand Canyon, but at the same time, 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. 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.”

How can McCain claim great health as a presidential candidate yet somehow be “unhealthy” enough and disabled when he had to convince the Navy he should receive a tax free disability pension from the taxpayers for the rest of his life? If he is truly disabled, why did the Navy allow him to continue his career at full pay until his full retirement in 1981 as a captain? More important, were these records that documented his disability a part of the release of documents, or were they limited to 2001-today? So much for the “straight talk” express.

McCain of all people should understand the problems of combat veterans, yet today, John McCain and President Bush oppose the revised, updated VA program for Iraqi veterans. Thanks, John.

Curtis D. Bennett,
Lawrence