WASHINGTON -- As soon as the Constitution permitted him to run for Congress, Al Salvi did. In 1986, just 26 and fresh from the University of Illinois law school, he sank $1,000 of his own money, which was most of his money, into his campaign to unseat an incumbent Democratic congressman. Salvi studied for the bar exam during meals at campaign dinners.

The head of the Republican Party of Florida offered a not-so-warm welcome to President Barack Obama -- who was expected to arrive in Miami Wednesday evening to speak at a Democratic fundraiser -- by highlighting the divisions festering among the president's own state party members.

Dont ask, dont tell takes on a new meaning as the Pentagon recently threatened to court-martial any soldier who spoke of his or her Christian faith. Officials went on to say that proselytizing was against policy and would be punished on a case-to-case basis.

Faith in the military is coming under attack. Its a different kind of war fought with censorship, new policies and a microscope.