Surveys conducted by news agencies such as CNN and MSNBC right after the recent election found that 80 percent of Republicans said that when it came to voting, issues dealing with their faith-based values took first priority. In other words, these people believe the issue of gay marriage is more important than the war in Iraq, the staggering deficit, the economy, affordable health care or the future of Social Security. If I’m not mistaken, isn’t the concept of “religion first” also the same method used by the likes of Iranians and the militants in Iraq?

Tom T. Davis

Everett