Like I said, Navy Regulations mean NOTHING vs political perceptions. This incident is manna from heaven to the liberals, they'll blare it constantly in ads : Bush won't stand by fellow christian being persecuted. That's all they'll ever hear about it, enough to split off that 2% of the christian base. What planet are you from? The electorate is so closely divided that a hand-full of votes can decide almost any political race. Remember : AlGore won the popular vote in 2000, GWB won in FL(and the electoral vote)by 1 vote in 500. Penny-wise/pound-foolish, what planet are you from? And don't bother pounding on the Navy Regulations as if it was the BIBLE, it doesn't work with me anymore than with that 2% that will stay home on election day; you'll see which BOOK rules...
Civics 101 - we are a nation of laws. And the military, which I served in for 29 years, is governed by regulations. Decisions are not based on political expediency. Military officers, sitting on courts martial, do not consult with the President's political advisors before deciding a case. When someone in the military is given a lawful order, and not appearing at a political event is a LONG standing regulation, willfully violating that lawful order must be dealt with, regardless of who you are. Politics has nothing to do with it.
In the first place he wasn't being persecuted he was being disciplined for disobeying orders. And in the second I would wager anything you want that after a week or so we never hear of this complete non-issue again.