Incorrect. The Mass Supremer Court did indeed legalize gay marriage. But "in deference to the legislature" (LOL) they gave them 180 days to change their laws to comply with the Supreme Court decision.
Here's the bottom line from the majority opinion.
In their complaint the plaintiffs request only a declaration that their exclusion and the exclusion of other qualified same-sex couples from access to civil marriage violates Massachusetts law. We declare that barring an individual from the protections, benefits, and obligations of civil marriage solely because that person would marry a person of the same sex violates the Massachusetts Constitution. We vacate the summary judgment for the department. We remand this case to the Superior Court for entry of judgment consistent with this opinion. Entry of judgment shall be stayed for 180 days to permit the Legislature to take such action as it may deem appropriate in light of this opinion."
Source: http://fl1.findlaw.com/news.findlaw.com/wp/docs/conlaw/goodridge111803opn.pdf
The statement you highlighted shows that the Court did two things, one orders the case back down to a lower court and two, allows the Legislature 180 days to act. The statement provides no reference to the governor nor requires him to act at all.
Now Ditto, since I see you may have “read” the law as I have, show where in the Supreme Court statement they ordered governor Romney to do anything. Let me know when you find it because I looked and I could not find a single reference. Romney acted on his own. He was not required by the court to order the Justices or the clerks to change a thing.
Perhaps this might have caused a crisis between the legislature and the court. But anyone who truly wanted to protect marriage would not have on his own threatened the Justices and clerks with firing as Romney did if they refused to marry gays.
Romney is the reason the gays succeeded in Massachusetts. He refused to support a marriage amendment stating it was “too extreme” when they first asked him for help supporting it. Then once the court had made it’s decision and the the damage was done, he changes his mind and supports the amendment knowing full well the legislature has no intent of doing anything for or against. Then just as time for the legislature to act has expired, he uses the convenient excuse of “I have to do something because no one else is doing anything,” in order to help the gays.
That is not the act of principled person. Unless you believe his keeping his promise to do more for gays than Ted Kennedy, is a principled act.