I am tired of Hillary Clinton, her husband and her daughter being the target of unfair attacks and sleazy vitriol from Republicans and the so-called mainstream media which feels the need to repeat them. I also do not like to see the attacked unfairly by the left in their own party. Benghazi and the so-called scandals of the 90’s are the ultimate examples of places where there is no “there” there and should be ignored by serious journalists. She is undoubtedly the most qualified candidate on either side in terms of resume and experience. As someone who was sometimes very frustrated with the apparent naïveté of Barack Obama in trying to work with Repubicans, I feel her potential realistic and tough approach may get a lot done. She knows the perils of both domestic politics and international relations and has the backbone to get things done.

Bernie Sanders is a great guy. He fights consistently for his beliefs with passion and a commitment to the common person. He never was and never will be one of the elite but, might that lack of connections not work against him in terms of getting things done? Indeed, he will need connections and friends in the establishment to stand up for him against attacks that he is a communist at best and an ISIS-sympathizer at worst if nominated.

I know all of this. Any realistic observer knows all of this. That is why I have struggled in choosing who to support for the Democratic nomination until now. At first, my wife (a native Vermonter whose mother worked with Sen Sanders on water issues in Burlington back when he was mayor) and her very Republican family supported him and that coupled with his anti-establishment views was enough for me. I posted my support for him in a diary several months ago.

Then I got to thinking it through and, more and more, I came to the conclusion that for the reasons mentioned above, Hillary would be the better candidate.

Then, this week happened. Between questioning Sen Sanders' physical fitness to serve, questioning his commitment to health care for all and questioning his integrity as it relates to a run of the mill campaign ad that states things he has said thousands of times before, Hillary is dead to me. As is Bill. I saw what they tried to do to Obama in South Carolina in 2008 and I didn't want to believe that was their true character...now I know it is.

In fact, I live in Wisconsin and will make a point to drive the four hours to Iowa to volunteer for Bernie the next two weekends and once he has the nomination, I hope Bill and Hillary retire and go away quietly. No more convention speeches or campaigning or anything. The real truth is that Bill sold the New Deal soul of the Democratic Party to be president and his wife is now willing to destroy one of the last true citizen-legislators so she can have power and protect her powerful friends’ interests.

Hillary has shown by her actions this week that her motivation, just like her husband, no matter what he says, is to be president. Fifty years have shown that Bernie Sanders is motivated to serve the common person. Choice made. Hillary got what she wanted from her attacks this week. They made the choice easy.