To The Editor, Knoxville News-Sentinel:

Vermont Sen. James Jeffords’ decision to become a Democratic-aligned independent didn’t cause the Republicans to lose control of the U.S. Senate-the Republican Party caused Republicans to lose control.

And, contrary to the prevailing wisdom, Republicans didn’t lose the Senate because they were too conservative; they lost it because they didn’t uphold their oath to the Constitution. That’s what prompted voters to desert Republican candidates and vote for Libertarians-which cost the GOP at least two U.S. Senate seats in Washington and Nevada. In each case, the Libertarian Party candidate won considerably more votes than the losing GOP candidate’s margin.

But, if Republicans start keeping their promises, they might start keeping their jobs.

As long as Republicans keep voting for bigger, more expensive, and more intrusive government, voters will keep deserting them for Libertarian Party candidates. Republicans better start getting used to their minority party status.

Chris Fortner

Knoxville