It is amazing to listen to the Republican candidates running to become the next president. I swear, they are working hard enough to become the next pope.

There is family values, with Newt Gringrich preaching about the sanctity of marriage. Mitt Romney, like the Vatican, has millions yet is unable to relate to the lower class (except to fire them). Rick Santorum, a devout Catholic, preaches about abortion and gay marriage.

It never fails, abortion and gay marriage are always spoken of in the same sentence.

Those men are against abortion, yet they practice a form of abortion every time they speak — aborting the rights of gays and lesbians on a daily basis.

Many say being gay is a choice. I can speak only of my own family, being the oldest of seven, with 13 offspring, five of whom are openly gay. Yes, I have a choice: to be open or to lock myself in a very unhealthy closet.

It is time to separate government and religious issues. This nation needs a president who is willing to help and respect all Americans.

Those who want to restore family values by daily quoting Scripture should look into becoming preachers, not elected government officials.

President Barack Obama was given a major task, left behind by Republican George W. Bush. It was a mess that accumulated during Bush's eight years in office. Obama should get another four years to fix the chaos left behind by the Bush administration.

Rolande Caron, South Paris