Kentucky Senate President David Williams declared himself "a Tea Partyer" on Wednesday and called for repeal of a constitutional amendment that took the power to appoint U.S. senators away from state legislatures and gave it to voters.

Williams' comments came during a presentation to the University of Kentucky Law School Federalist Society. They drew strong reaction from Williams' rival in next spring's Republican primary election for governor and from Mitch McConnell and Jim Bunning, Kentucky's two U.S. senators.

David Adams, campaign manager for Republican gubernatorial candidate Phil Moffett, said Williams was lifting Moffett's idea, while McConnell spokesman Robert Steurer and Bunning defended the voting process.

"Taking that sacred right away from the American people and giving it to politicians would be a huge step backward for our democracy," Steurer said. Bunning, who is retiring when his term ends in January, said in a statement, "The way it is now is the proper way to do it."

Williams, a Burkesville attorney, told about 50 UK law students that most of the problems with the federal government stem from the 17th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, adopted in 1913.

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TVNL Comment: As GWB put it, the US Constitution is 'only a piece of paper.'  The inmates really do run the asylum.  Scary stuff.