A Letter From President George Bush to Massachusetts Supreme Court Justice Margaret Marshall

Dear Margaret,

First let me say thank for all you have done. In all honesty I could not have won without you. I am sure you believe your Goodridge decision was correct and, of course, you and I disagree on this. But there is a silver lining in every cloud. Goodridge gave me the White House for four more years and for that I thank you.

Perhaps you now realize that many of your fellow citizens truly believe a “ culture war” is being waged against them. Goodridge, unfortunately for the Democrats, was confirmation. Pushed to the brink and looking into the abyss by the same-sex marriage ruling, enough voters declared enough already and decided to push back.

Those eleven states which voted overwhelmingly to nix same-sex marriage also generated the votes to keep me in office. Ohio was the prize though. You see, the 150,000 votes from the very religious population there in the southwest of the state around Cincinnati pushed me over the top with electoral votes.

A good number of Americans never believed your ruling was about “ equal protection” but rather more akin to providing “ special rights” . They took stock when I talked at every opportunity during the campaign about activist judges behaving above the will of the people. They listened and they agreed.

It would be well Margaret if you could truly understood our country’s ‘moral values’ . Believe me, it is indeed a real part of the American fabric. Does it really surprise you most Americans took offense at the attempt to transform beyond recognition this basic social institution? Even your liberal US Congressman Barney Frank has said those who supported me on religious and moral grounds deserve respect.

In fact, traditional America has been treating the gay community with respect for some time now. The response to their tolerance however was Goodridge and all that followed in California and elsewhere. As some on the other side of the aisle now acknowledge it was all too much, too fast to swallow.

Your action created a new phenomena in our country. Marriage in the main was accepted heretofore by each and every state in our nation. Now Massachusetts is left alone with its own, judicially concocted version.

Perhaps the ball you started rolling will indeed end up in the U.S. Supreme Court. If so, following my new appointments to the court, it will conclude there and return to where it rightly should have begun--up to the people to decide.

If I may, Margaret, some advice. Should you remain determined to make new law for all of us be prepared for the broader consequences. It is after all part of the elected legislators’ job and unelected public officials such as yourself should get accustomed to political ramifications of your acts.

Again, thank you for your help.

Sincerely,

George Bush, President-elect