Skeptic Project

In the same week that Ohio's new Tea Party-backed Republican governor, John Kasich, submitted his first state budget (no cameras, please) cutting state funding for public education by an estimated 11% in the first year alone, there was a remarkable defection from his camp. No, I'm not talking about from the Republican-dominated State Assembly, which is expected to rubber-stamp that budget proposal.

It was a defection of a different kind altogether.

Writing for my hometown Plain Dealer, Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist Connie Schultz (the wife of Democratic U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown) shared a letter from a reader writing to his wife, a Cleveland teacher. The reader, as Ms. Schultz described, was "not a fan" of her column -- he was a conservative businessman, a card-carrying Tea Partier. But still, he sent to Ms. Schultz a letter apologizing to his wife for voting for Mr. Kasich in the first place:

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.

Signed, sealed.

http://maddowblog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/03/17/6287437-dear-honey-im-sorry-ohio-buyers-remorse