Readers write for Friday, Feb. 25

President Obama took an oath to obey and support the Constitution and the laws of the United States!

The law of the land is that marriage is between a man and a woman -- thus Obama must support that law ("U.S.: Ban on gay marriage violates rights," Feb. 24).

In addition, 31 states have laws that demand marriage to be between a man and a woman.

And doesn't nature even tell us that a man and a woman marry, have children and raise them to be law-abiding?

I have never had much respect for Obama, but let me say this: Great shame to you, Mr. Obama! That I should call you president of this great country is a sham, and the sooner the 2012 election comes the better!

Heaven help us all for this indiscretion!

WILLIAM EATON, BROOKLYN PARK

The president seems misguided in setting priorities. With Americans being murdered by pirates, Americans fleeing Libya, soaring fuel and food prices that will impact the economic recovery, protests in several Midwestern capitals, the federal government at risk of shutting down, and strained relations between the political parties on most every issue, he adds the gay marriage issue to the mix. That move is not going to build the spirit of cooperation.

STAN SMITH, NEW BRIGHTON

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Obama is overtly overstepping his authority by abandoning the defense of a federal law in order to pander to his prohomosexual voter base. This is but one of his campaign tactics for the 2012 presidential election.

BEV TISCHLER, JACKSON, MINN.

It appears that, in Wisconsin, the management side has simply been bad at bargaining. So why not put in a team that's good at bargaining, go for the desired concessions, and leave the bargaining rights alone?

MARK STEDMAN, AFTON

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A letter writer, appearing to support the Wisconsin governor, laments the "dismal academic performance in Wisconsin's public schools" (Readers Write, Feb. 24), and proposes Republican-style ideas of vouchers, merit pay, etc.

Reasonable discussion points, but Wisconsin is second in the nation in student ACT/SAT scores. At the other end of the list are six states that make it illegal for teachers to have collective bargaining: South Carolina (50th), North Carolina (49th), Georgia (48th), Texas (47th), Virginia (44th) and West Virginia (43rd).

GARY THOMPSON, ST. PAUL

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First, we have teachers lying about being sick so they can go protest, resulting in schools being closed. Next, we have state senators fleeing the offices to which they were elected, abdicating their responsibility and going into "hiding."

Great examples for children, folks. I'm a Minnesota resident but own seasonal property in Wisconsin, so I pay taxes in both states. Get back to work.

GEORGE M. GAIDA, WINONA, MINN.

Every other private business plans for the future, and Mr. Wilf has known about this since he bought the team. He should already know exactly how much money he is borrowing and how he is going to pay off the loan.

If he has not done this I don't see how he was successful in any of his other ventures.

DEAN REINKE, MINNEAPOLIS

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This option is claimed to have the advantage that the Vikings can play in the Metrodome while the new stadium is being built. It appears to me that all the other options being considered have the same advantage, except the one to rebuild the Dome.

I am the youth minister at the St. Edward Catholic Church in Bloomington, and I wish to attest to the extraordinary talent and capability of homilist Heidi Busse ("A move to limit lay preaching," Feb. 24).

She is one of the most capable theologians I know. I also applaud the Rev. Mike Tegeder in the face of the passive-aggressive bullying he has endured for his courage to speak on the behalf of so many wounded Catholics.

For a Church that purports to be guided by the Holy Spirit, the true embodiment of God, I think that it is time to recognize that Spirit speaking in all of its forms: in the wisdom of lay men and (hold your breath) women.

CHAD O'LEARY, ST. PAUL

After reading about the complaints of disabled people against Delta Air Lines ("Delta fined a record $2M," Feb. 18), I would just like to acknowledge the other side and thank Delta for the wonderful treatment we had flying with my disabled husband. They could not have been nicer or helped us more. Why do the complaints always get the publicity?