Health ruling not the same as election case

This is in regard to the Ann Treanor letter on July 8, “Health care ruling is confusing, but just,” regarding the Supreme Court decision on health care. She wrote that she was “one of millions of Americans dazed and confused by the court's reasoning in Bush v. Gore (the decision that saddled us with George W. Bush for eight years).”

Actually, that case was about the Florida Supreme Court's decision to allow a hand recount in four predominantly Democratic counties. The decision was that the Florida court had misinterpreted Florida election law enacted by the Florida Legislature.

It determined that the recount method to be used was a violation of the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment.

In 2001, a consortium of news organizations assisted by professional statisticians did a study over a period of 10 months. The results: If Florida's 67 counties had carried out the recount of disputed ballots applying standards election officials said they would have used, Bush would be the victor by 493 votes. So just as Justice Scalia said at the time to disgruntled Democrats ”just get over it.”

Donald Washburn

Marion