UPDATE: Here’s video of the press conference immediately prior to the arraignment on Monday, thanks to OkieCampaigns.

Today I had the pleasure of speaking with Paul Jacob after the arraignment of “the Oklahoma 3″ (Paul Jacob, Susan Johnson, and Rick Carpenter). One might think that with the prospect of about a year ahead of him in legal battles, he might want to just relax and take a break, but quite the opposite was true. He stated the arraignment had gone about as expected, and that he would, if needed be back for the scheduling hearing on March 13th.

But then he was ready to talk about several Oklahoma initiatives, about the initiative process in general, and about his new project over the next year - which is is calling the “Save the Initiative Blog Tour.” The goal, partially, is to make bloggers more aware of the importance of the initiative process.

Jacob stated that his three major goals regarding his legal process are:

1. Win in Court
2. Get the residency laws in the states that have them “thrown out.”
3. Make sure this indictment of the Oklahoma 3 does not become a deterrent to intiative-activists, but that it instead becomes a rallying cry for them.

Jacob explained that the initiative process does for politics what the first amendment did for the media, and that a successful revolution of this process would allow citizens to dynamically address te legal system - now and in the future.

He shared that for a citizen, deciding to begin an initiative (e.g. for term limits, spending limits, government accountability, etc..) requires that citizen to count the cost, personally, and those costs can be astromical, personally and professionally. There is an enormous amount of time (away from family, career, personal life), and often a huge financial burden involved. But when the additional cost of legal retaliation by the government becomes a consideration, many citizens decide they simply cannot take that risk, and will “shut up.” Jacob’s goal, in working through his own legal battle, through his foundation (Citizens in Charge), through the Sam Adams Alliance and Foundation, and now through the “Save the Initiative Blog Tour” is to reduce the fear of such legal action against citizens by their government.

When asked what advice he would give to citizens who are considering becoming involved in the initiative process, he said:

1. Go for it.
2. Get an attorney. It may seem ridiculous to need an attorney to petition your own government, and it is, but get an attorney.
3. Look “over your shoulder” on every move. Retaliation from certain government officials can extend to the initiative creators, the petitioners, the volunteers, and even the donors.
4. If a move is questionable, go the “unquestionable route.”
5. Remember that if you can just succeed in getting the initiative on the ballot, you can still win (even if you’re outspent and bullied by the opposition).
6. Don’t give up. If we give up our right to petition our own government, we aren’t going to like what our country looks like for our children and grandchildren.

Finally, when asked how bloggers, and our blog readers can help - both with the legal battle of the Oklahoma 3, and with the citizen initiative process in general - Paul said:

1. Spread the word, by talking with your neighbors
2. Contact the governor (in this case of Oklahoma, Brad Henry)
3. Don’t “harrass” Drew Edmondson or his staff, simply for the sake of harrassing them.
4. Pay attention to current legislative measures pending, and contact your legislators.

UPDATED: Paul Jacob had a lot more specific advice for Oklahoma Citizens (See Paul Jacob’s not Giving Up!).

The most inspiring thing that Paul said to me during the interview was that he considered the sacrifices he is making now to be insurance for his children’s and grandchildren’s future. Although he made it clear that he fully intends to win this case, he also stated that it was even more important that the end-result of his efforts was an America in which citizens are free to petition their government, and carry out the initiative process. If this meant he had to go to jail, then he would be willing to do it.

For more information, see Free Paul Jacob.

UPDATED, also see:

• Legal Newsline: “Jacob ready to tour against Edmondson’s re-indictment”
• Make Noise! (for the Oklahoma 3)
• Paul Jacob goes back to court, Monday
• Oklahoma 3 Reindicted
• Freedom of Speech for Me, but not for Thee
• The Oklahoma 3 (from the CLC ‘07)

(Also on Conservablogs)

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