LA Times Disses Disabled Veterans
The LA Times in a story by Staff Writer Ralph Vartabedian questions John McCain’s ability to serve as President and Commander in Chief based on the fact he draws a disability pension from the Navy for injuries he received as a 5 year POW during Vietnam.
This is not the first story Mr. Vartabedian has written about Senator McCain and probably won’t be the last. He wrote about Senator McCain’s return to duty after Vietnam as a Navy flyer in a story published April 18, 2008 entitled “John McCain returned from Vietnam determined to lead,” and also one on May 19, 2007 entitled, “McCain’s age, demeanor work against candidacy.”
Now the LA Times is not known for unbiased reporting but Mr Vartabedian does try to balance his stories with only a few snide comments. As a Staff Writer I am sure the tone of his stories is dictated by his superiors, but his comments about a disabled veteran being qualified to serve as President are to say the least naïve and short sighted.
I too am a disabled veteran. John McCain could easily out walk me, but I was unaware that the President of the United States required a jock. Most jocks I know are just egotists who were blessed with good musclature and reflexes. I would hope the job of President would require more cerebrial activities and less physical ones. Steven Hawkings is severly disabled but he is a highly intelligent person should we tell him he can’t be “all that he can be?”
In my opinion my mind is still sharp even though I physically can no longer jump from airplanes, run ten miles or pass a physical training test. Mr. Vartabedian insinuates that disabled veterans are a burden on society, that they should only get disability pensions if they don’t work. His implication is that this country owes veterans nothing if they can still find employment outside the military.
I respectfully disagree. Veterans are a unique group of men and women. I believe most would volunteer regardless of their disabilities if this great Country called on them. I know I would!
Also on RedState


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[...] Vartabedian writing in the LA Times (found via Fort Hard Knox) put together a pretty low attack on Senator John McCain using his collection of a [...]