Dear Bernie Sanders,

I have been an ardent voice for you during this election cycle. I have posted on Facebook and even written a couple articles about your chances to win. I first saw you on an episode of Bill Maher's Real Time, debating with a panel against the ills of our society with some conservative that was railing back against your liberal views. As much as anyone in my life, your stances and your common sense on issues are a large part that I lean more to the left than I ever have in my life. Your political revolution has been trans formative for me. In my younger days, I was a pretty firm Reagan fan. It is only as time has passed that I have moved first to the center and now left of center. The craziness and hypocrisy of the Republican party has certainly helped that transition in me. So, it with great sadness that I say to you that it is indeed over and it is time to start the process of healing the Democratic party before a maniac wins the presidency.

In 1988, the Reagan era ended and there was a fierce competition for which Democrat would win the chance to run against George H.W. Bush for President of the United States. Fresh off of his Rainbow Coalition speech at the 1984 Democratic Convention, Jesse Jackson hoped to roll that wave of momentum into a victory over Michael Dukakis in the Democratic primaries. At the end of the day, the momentum of Jesse Jackson's wins in the southern primaries on Super Tuesday was not able to derail Dukakis from winning the nomination. At the 1988 convention, Jackson gave what amounted to a concession speech when he delivered what has become known as the American Quilt speech. The purpose of that speech was to reunify the party behind Dukakis so that he could then proceed to the general election against what was perceived to be a vulnerable opponent. In the end, the Democrats did not unify behind Dukakis, and they fell to Bush in the Fall.

My point behind this history lesson is to illustrate that we are in danger of repeating that 1988 loss. There is an extremely vulnerable opponent on the other side, but that will not matter if the party does not unify behind a candidate. I have watched you run an honorable campaign and watched you rail against the machine all these months. You have won far more states than even I thought you would. But in the end, sir, our side has lost. Hillary is going to be the choice and it is time to heal the party, in order to prevent a maniac from winning the white house. Hillary may not be the best choice for President, but she is far better than the charlatan that the other side offers. So, I implore you, Mr. Sanders, do the right thing and work to reunify the party behind her for the better good of the country. There is absolutely no shame in having fought the good fight and getting beat. You came from being no more than a fringe candidate to running neck and neck with the political elite. The issues you have run so hard on will certainly become a part of the party platform and your supporters will be welcomed by Hillary, but you are going to have to help us bridge that gap. It is time to concede and endorse her for the greater good.

Sincerely,

A concerned citizen.