As he has occasionally done before, Michael “Mikey” Weinstein has complained about the upcoming National Day of Prayer to be held at the Capitol, equating the National Day of Prayer Task Force, which is helping to organize the event, with al Qaeda.  Weinstein “respectfully demands” not only that any DoD participation be prohibited, but that the DoD

aggressively investigate and appropriately punish any of the individuals and/or organizations that would have allowed for uniformed personnel to participate in this sectarian spectacle

The Defense Department appears non-plussed:

Army officials on Friday said there were no plans to back out of the event. The Army still intends to send a chaplain and the Military District Washington will contribute a color guard, a vocalist and a military band.

Weinstein publicized the complaint he lodged, making the media’s repetition of his complaint unintentionally comical: While Weinstein goes to great lengths to say he’s not fighting Christians, he is characterized in the very first sentence as…fighting Christians [emphasis added]:

Longtime critics of Christian conservatives’ influence in military culture are demanding the Pentagon back away from involvement in a National Day of Prayer event on Capitol Hill next month, saying it’s a thinly veiled rally for far-right fundamentalists.

Once again, Weinstein is recognized not for “religious freedom,” as he would like to claim, but his “longtime” criticism of Christians in the military.  His reputation precedes him.

As to the event, the DoD participation is at the request of a US Congressman:

Rep. Robert Aderholt (R-Ala.) had requested military participation in the event, which will include a color guard, a military band, a vocalist and a chaplain.

which largely undermines Weinstein’s complaint.  As to the complaint, the DoD isn’t obligated to answer it at all, much less acquiesce — which appears to be the position they’ve taken.  Not unlike its prior reactions to Weinstein, where it ignored him and expressed indifference to his (empty) legal threats, the US Army this time

said they had no formal response to the foundation’s complaint.

Rather than asking “how high?” when Weinstein said “jump!”, the Army is treating him just as it would any other external critic.

Weinstein has said he might “consider” legal action if the DoD doesn’t surrender to his demands.  Notably, the DoD’s decision to tell Weinstein to pound sand received far more attention than his initial press release, which might tweak his ego and goad him into taking action, against better judgment.

Also at Military.com, the Christian News Network, USA Today, Military.com, the Christian Post, the Air Force Times, BizPac Review, Allen B. West, the Huffington Post, and the Washington Times.

ADVERTISEMENT