A columnist in Cleveland shared this letter that was sent to her by a Tea Partier. This man had voted for John Kasich and Kasich is in the group of midwestern Republican governors who are attacking public employees.
Dear Honey,
I’m sorry.
I am a conservative husband, belong to the Tea Party and I voted for John Kasich. I have been married to a Cleveland teacher for almost 14 years and my vote let her down.
I apologize:
For letting people tease you about having the summer off and not asking them to thank you for the tough days ahead that begin in early August. I know for a fact you work more hours in those 10 months than many people do in 12. All those hours are earned.
For complaining that my Sunday is limited with you because you must work.
For making you think you have to ask permission to buy a student socks, gloves and hats.
For not understanding that you walk through a metal detector for work.
For leaving dirty dishes in the sink [when you awoke] for your 4 a.m. work session. I should know you have to prepare.
For thinking you took advantage of the taxpayers. Our governor continues to live off the taxpayer dole, not you.
For counting the time and money you spend to buy school supplies.
For not saying “thank you” enough for making the world and me better.
I love you.
I think the GOP is finding that public employees are a lot more popular than Republican governors. It’s easy to demonize the “other,” people who are largely invisible to the public at large (like undocumented immigrants). It’s not so easy to demonize your friends and neighbors. My favorite part of the letter is his description of how hard she works for her students. This letter deserves to go viral.