Just how much does Mitt Romney love teachers?

"I love teachers," he said repeatedly during a spirited exchange in Monday night's foreign policy debate that went off topic, to the annoyance of moderator Bob Schieffer, and delved into teacher hiring policies. But Romney also said he doesn't think the federal government should pay to hire teachers, even at a time when so many school systems have cut payrolls due to the recession.

Now, the National Education Association, the nation's largest teachers union, has created a "love letter" for Romney. The graphic, which the NEA is distributing widely to reporters and on its blog, is titled "My Funny Valentine" and features pictures of the former Massachusetts governor framed in hearts.

"Mitt Romney has a strange way of showing 'love,'" it says.

Several thought bubbles highlight his conflicting comments on education. "I love teachers!" one heart-surrounded Romney says. But Romney in a cracked heart repeats the GOP nominee's June quote, "We don't need more teachers." "The effort to reduce classroom size may actually hurt education more than it helps," another thought bubble says, quoting Romney in 2010. The graphic also quotes Donnie McGee, a Massachusetts community college professor who said, "When Romney was Governor ... students and educators struggled."