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Tuesday, May 13, 2008 Flashback: Turpen-Edmondson "Doing It For the Children" (and $268 million) W. A. D. Edmondson taking a break in between cases. Is his golf club taller than he is?
Hearing that Edmondson and Turpen were again using a once-respected public affairs show to dissemble on the Oklahoma public reminds us of the fat (no pun intended) payout Turpen received as the result of his alliance with the attorney general.
Oklahoma will eventually receive $2.6 billion dollars in the national tobacco settlement. Edmondson appointed several law firms to walk off with the lottery earnings while the firms pretended to litigate on behalf of the citizens of the state. The hard working lawyers, who according to most reports spent no time in the courtroom, got $268 million in fees for their “strategic contribution.”
Six national law firms, including movie-lawyer-turned-criminal defendant Richard Scruggs, shared the winnings with among others, Riggs Abney of Tulsa. The law firms attempted to charge the taxpayers a rate of $6000 per hour, but gave the citizens a break since they are such good guys.
Scruggs has been busy these days, but Edmondson was able to bring Scruggs’ buddy Ron Motley into the poultry suit, which we’re sure he’s doing for the children and not in hopes of another obscene profit safari.
Related:
FreePaulJacob.com: Edmondson helps block term limits on himselfLabels: AG, Drew Edmondson, Mike Turpen, Poultry Lawsuit Posted at 5/13/2008 08:51:00 AM | 
House Fails to Overide Henry Veto of Lawsuit Reform
Excerpt from Speaker Benge's press release:
Thursday, May 08, 2008
OKLAHOMA CITY (May 12, 2008) –House Democrats voted in lock step with the trial lawyer lobby today when an attempt to override the governor’s veto of reasonable lawsuit reform failed on the House floor. Gov. Brad Henry vetoed House Bill 2458 last week, claiming the bill is unconstitutional. The bill would require a plaintiff in a civil lawsuit for professional negligence to attach to the petition an affidavit attesting that a “reasonable interpretation of the facts supports a finding that the acts or omissions of the defendant….constituted professional negligence.” Rep. Colby Schwartz, author of the bill, called the legislation a meaningful step in reducing frivolous lawsuits in Oklahoma and criticized House Democrats for locking up on a bill that passed the Senate unanimously in its current form. “The governor of Oklahoma does not get to decide if legislation is constitutional; that job is left to our court system,” said Schwartz, R-Yukon. “This bill would have cleared the courts of frivolous lawsuits to make way for those with legitimate cases, but instead House Democrats voted today to keep our court system clogged with expensive lawsuits without merit.”The House Democrats actions today reminded us of a website our readers should be familiar with that deals with legal extortionists: www.overlawyered.com. A massive archive there helps you follow the major league offenders, such as Ron Motley, the Charleston-based legal pirate that Edmondson has brought in to work the poultry cases on behalf of the, ahem, taxpayers since his other buddy Dickie Scruggs has been unavoidably detained. Labels: AG, Drew Edmondson, Speaker Chris Benge Posted at 5/12/2008 08:48:00 PM |
Paul Jacob Supporters Answer Critics
Labels: AG, Drew Edmondson, Paul Jacob TABOR Posted at 5/08/2008 01:35:00 PM |
Drew Edmondson: Poster Child for Term Limits
Courtesy of one of our "Capitol reporters"
Drew Edmondson and his entourage filed into the House gallery on Thursday of last week to personally hear the debate and watch the vote on the state-wide elected official term limits bill (SB 1987). Edmondson was seen hastily walking out of the chamber in disgust of passage of the measure. Reportedly, Edmondson spent the rest of the morning arguing with fellow Democrat and lobbyist Pat Hall about this legislation passing the Senate and going to a vote of the people.
Edmondson is targeting Sen. Nancy Riley and Sen. Susan Paddack to change their orginal YES vote for term limits to a NO vote in the coming weeks. Seems Drew doesn't want to leave his office anytime soon...
From freepauljacob.com:
Yes, it’s true. Drew Edmondson, the four-time incumbent attorney general of Oklahoma, notorious for abusing the power of his office to prosecute honest supporters of Oklahomans’ citizen initiative rights, has publicly stated his opposition to a bill that would limit his tenure as well as that of other state officials. Read more...
GetRightOK.com: The fight of the session: Term Limits v. Entrenched Incumbent Labels: AG, Drew Edmondson, Paul Jacob TABOR, Poultry Lawsuit Posted at 4/23/2008 11:25:00 AM |
State Leader of Paul Campaign Files Complaint Against McCain’s Telemarketing AbusesCindy McCain Robo Call (Click here to listen) Keating for McCain Robo Call (Click here to listen) Kirk Shelley, Oklahoma State Coordinator of the Ron Paul Presidential campaign, filed a formal complaint regarding John McCain’s illegal robo-calling with the Oklahoma Attorney General. Shelley expressed his frustration with McCain’s calls: “Everyone knows the rules on these calls, or they should” said Shelley, “when you run for President or work in federal campaigns you get attorneys to tell you what you can and can not do – calling non-supporters without a phone number to stop the calls is illegal.” “Anyone who pays attention to politics knows that Tim Pope was indicted by Drew Edmondson for this same thing. The McCain campaign or their telemarketing people sure should have known better.” Shelley continued “the bigger picture to me is this – Sen. McCain has set himself up as leader for campaign reform by authoring ‘McCain-Feingold’ telling the rest of the country the rules he thinks we should follow, yet here he is violating those very rules he helped create. If you are going to create laws limiting the free speech rights of other Americans at least have the integrity to follow them yourself.” "I have sent copies of the illegal calls go to the Attorney General and I’m confident he will prosecute with the same diligence that he went after Tim Pope, and I hope the voters remember that the author of ‘so-called campaign reform’ broke his own rules.” Labels: AG, Decision '08, Drew Edmondson, Kirk Shelley, Tim Pope Posted at 2/04/2008 09:45:00 PM |
"The Oklahoma 3" Rally with Paul Jacob, Sen. Randy BrogdonTuesday, January 22, 2008Boss Hog Needs a HOG ActW.A.D. Edmondson From The Weblog For Mr. GOP: We all remember Boss Hog (or was it Hogg) from “The Dukes of Hazzard” Boss was a corrupt little man eager to get the arm of the law fully enforced on any minor (or supposed) infraction. At the same time he used his power to secure that he would never have any negative implications reflected on his own nefarious activities. To the surprise of very few, Oklahoma has its own “Boss Hog”. What may not be known is the degree to which he has empowered himself to act with impunity while politically and legally persecuting those who dare to disagree with him. It will also be of no surprise to suggest that our own Attorney General Drew Edmondson is Oklahoma’s version of the overstuffed, height challenged, self-important hick from the back woods. Read more... Related: The News Star (Monroe, LA): In Oklahoma, freedom's not OK Labels: AG, Drew Edmondson, Paul Jacob TABOR Posted at 1/22/2008 08:05:00 AM |
"Oklahoma 3" Rally Set for January 28thThe arraignment of the Oklahoma 3, regarding the new indictment issued through Attorney General Edmondson’s office, has been scheduled for Monday, January 28. Supporters of the Oklahoma 3 have scheduled a noon news conference outside the courthouse, just prior to the 1:30 pm arraignment. If you live close to Oklahoma City, we hope you will try to come out and show your support at the news conference, to let the Oklahoma 3 know that we’re behind them (and to let AG Edmondson know that we’re not behind him!). Where: Oklahoma County Courthouse 321 Park Ave. Oklahoma City When: Monday, January 28 News Conference: Noon Arraignment: 1:30 pm Labels: AG, Drew Edmondson, Paul Jacob TABOR Posted at 1/21/2008 11:01:00 AM |
W. A. Drew Edmondson Re-Indicts "Oklahoma 3"W. A. D. Edmondson From FreePaulJacob.com: The arraignment of the Oklahoma 3, regarding the new indictment issued through Attorney General Edmondson’s office, has been scheduled for Monday, January 28. Supporters of the Oklahoma 3 have scheduled a noon news conference outside the courthouse, just prior to the 1:30 pm arraignment. Read more... Labels: AG, Drew Edmondson, Paul Jacob TABOR Posted at 1/15/2008 12:02:00 PM |
Illinois River Advocate Supports W.A.D. Edmondson Poultry Suit Courtesy of Conium
Labels: AG, Drew Edmondson, Mike Turpin, Poultry Lawsuit Posted at 1/14/2008 11:53:00 AM |
Oklahoma’s Boss Tweed: Drew EdmondsonThe Chicago Daily Observer ranked W. A. D. Edmondson's indictment of Paul Jacob - along with two others - as one of their "Seven Most Underreported Stories of 2007." As we all know, all seven of those slots could have legitimately contained stories from Oklahoma. Luckily for W.A.D., he has the bought and paid for, lazy Oklahoma press, to protect him. From the Chicago Daily Observer: "An actual local Civil Rights activist was arrested and brought in chains before an Oklahoma court charged with circulating petitions as non residents of the state. Paul Jacob, a fellow at Chicago’s Sam Adams Alliance faces 10 years in prison for practicing the 1st amendment, in a prominent case in the eyes of the Wall Street Journal and Forbes Magazine, yet totally ignored by the Chicago Media." Read more... Related: Doug Bandow: Oklahoma’s Boss Tweed: Drew Edmondson Labels: AG, Drew Edmondson, Paul Jacob TABOR Posted at 1/13/2008 03:05:00 PM |
W.A.D. Tells Tulsa World: "I'm No Grinch"“It seems like stating the obvious, but I would like people to remember that there is no accuracy filter on the Internet. My second message — merry Christmas.” - W. A. Drew Edmondson W. A. D. Edmondson's favorite "accuracy filter" the Tulsa World gave him a few paragraphs this morning to answer a question we asked him yesterday - "Is he a Grinch?" Redstate.org sent us an email yesterday with a link to a Washington examiner article that claimed W.A.D's office had issued a recommendation banning the word Christmas at Southwestern Oklahoma State University. W.A.D. claimed our posting of the Redstate email prompted 125 calls to his office. (we actually heard it was about double that) W.A.D. says his office never offered any advice: "The group was "attacking me for advice I never gave, on an issue for which we were never consulted," he said. Furthermore, the school is not advised by the Attorney General's Office, Edmondson said. Brian Adler, director of public relations at Southwestern Oklahoma State University, said Thursday that the information was false and that there is no ban on Christmas at the school. Read more... Related: FreePaulJacob.com: More phony arguments from AG Edmondson Labels: AG, Drew Edmondson Posted at 12/21/2007 09:24:00 AM |
W.A.D. Edmondson A Grinch?
Email we received today from redstate.com:
Dear RedState Reader, Drew Edmondson is the Oklahoma Attorney General. Recently he rounded up conservative activists and threw them in jail for circulating petitions to get conservatives on the ballot. Now, however, Oklahoma Atty Gen. Drew Edmondson has done something even nuttier. He has issued an advisory opinion from the Attorney General's Office directing universities and public employees in Oklahoma to refrain from using or writing the word "Christmas." Mark Tapscott with the Washington Examiner has the details. Mark notes, "Edmondson issued an advisory opinion to officials at Southwestern Oklahoma State University in Weatherford advising them that the word "Christmas" should not be spoken by any employee of the state school, not written in any official holiday decorations." Attorney General Edmondson can be reached at 405-521-3921. Please call and wish him a Merry Christmas and ask why he banned Christmas. All the best and Merry Christmas to you,
ChristianNewsWire.com: Southwestern Oklahoma State University Bans the Word 'Christmas' Labels: AG, Drew Edmondson, Paul Jacob TABOR Posted at 12/20/2007 02:05:00 PM |
Video: Ed Kelley - Inhofe Interjects
Ed Kelley, editor of The Oklahoman, comments on the recent decision by Senator Inhofe to "interject" himself into the standoff between the Attorney General and the poultry industry.
Monday, December 17, 2007
Labels: AG, Drew Edmondson, Poultry Lawsuit, Sen. Inhofe Posted at 12/19/2007 03:46:00 PM |
Inhofe Suggests Mediation In Poultry-Waste SquabbleU.S. Senator Jim Inhofe says an amendment that he proposed addressing the issue of poultry waste in Oklahoma has been included in a key piece of farm legislation. The Tulsa World reports from its Washington bureau that the Oklahoma Republican says he hopes his amendment will help the parties involved in an ongoing dispute over the issue to find common ground. The $286 billion farm bill passed yesterday on a 79-14 vote, with both Inhofe and Oklahoma's other senator, Republican Tom Coburn, voting for the bill. The bill now goes to a House-Senate conference committee. President Bush has threatened to veto the legislation, saying it costs too much. Read More Labels: AG, Drew Edmondson, Poultry Lawsuit, Sen. Inhofe Posted at 12/17/2007 10:09:00 AM |
Oklahoma 3 Are Re-indicted!Free Paul Jacob: Oklahoma Attorney General Drew Edmondson has re-indicted the Oklahoma 3—Paul Jacob, Rick Carpenter and Susan Johnson. His outrageous prosecution now continues, after the AG had, several weeks ago, quietly dismissed the grand jury indictment against the three. Paul Jacob made the following statement regarding his re-indictment: Read more... Related: A mash-up video, about the Oklahoma AG's attack on "The Oklahoma 3". Labels: AG, Drew Edmondson, Paul Jacob TABOR Posted at 12/08/2007 10:36:00 PM |
Morality is Not One of Drew's AttributesOklahoma Attorney General "W.A.D." Edmondson
From the "Fair and Biased" blog: mo·ral·i·ty (m -r l -t , mô-) NOUN: pl. mo·ral·i·ties 1. The quality of being in accord with standards of right or good conduct. 2. A system of ideas of right and wrong conduct: religious morality; Christian morality.3. Virtuous conduct. 4. A rule or lesson in moral conduct. “It was my obligation to defend this (HB 1804).” “I only have to argue the legality of it.” “I’ve very grateful I do not have to argue the morality of it.” Oklahoma Attorney General Drew Edmondson in 12/4 edition of The Oklahoman Drew Edmondson, Oklahoma AG, is between a rock and hard place. He says he has to legally argue for a law that he believes is immoral. Edmondson is an attorney, so it’s difficult to believe he hasn’t faced these dilemmas before. It's a good thing Drew doesn’t have to argue the morality of HB #1804- or any law for that matter. Edmondson’s morals and ethics have been questionable for years. Consider the following examples: In November 1998, Edmondson and seven other state A.G.s announced they had negotiated a historic settlement with big tobacco. The settlement imposed sweeping bans on tobacco advertising, stopped the tobacco companies from targeting children, allocated funding for tobacco education efforts and pays the states about $206 billion in recovery funds. But Edmondson benefited from the Tobacco Settlement by reaping major campaign contributions from the lawyers who got big fees in the tobacco suit. In 2000, Edmondson involved the state of Oklahoma in a U. S. Supreme Court case by supporting a New Jersey court decision ordering the Scouts to reinstate a homosexual scout leader. Read more... Related: LegalNewsline.com: Activist expects 'ham sandwich' justice from Okla. AG Labels: AG, Drew Edmondson, Immigration Reform, Poultry Lawsuit Posted at 12/05/2007 01:49:00 PM |
W.A.D. Edmondson Tells Critics to Go to Hell!Oklahoma Attorney General W. A. Drew Edmondson wrote a response letter to a recent Wall Street Journal “editorial that was critical of his political indictment of Paul Jacob, Susan Johnson, and Rick Carpenter. Any observer of politics, or ordinary citizen for that matter, should be appalled at the sheer arrogance that is on display in Edmondson's letter. For example. Edmondson writes in his first sentence:
"I was surprised at the vigor with which you condemned the state for our prosecution of three individuals who are charged with violating Oklahoma campaign laws."No Mr. Edmondson, WSJ is condemning you because you are trampling over the first amendment and abusing your power as attorney general to simply harass and intimidate these people. We all know how the game is played in these types of frivolous lawsuits brought by overzealous politicians. The real aim is not to win the case, but to drain the defendants' of time, money - and worst of all their peace of mind! Edmondson again attempts to assault the character of the defendants: "The signature gatherers Carpenter, Jacob and Johnson brought into Oklahoma had no intent to live here. They came only to do a job and then move on. They were not residents." From the Sam Adams Alliance website:"Paul outlines in his statement that, as an advisor to the petition drive, he worked with Oklahomans in Action (the backers of the TABOR initiative) to obtain the best petition services, and then to monitor the drive's progress. Oklahomans in Action contracted with National Voter Outreach (NVO), a petition company that had conducted many successful petition drives in the past. The contract specifically stated that NVO be familiar with Oklahoma's petitioning laws." Read more... Edmondson continues: "It’s perfectly legal for out-of-state interests to finance a petition drive. They just have to follow Oklahoma law which includes using only qualified electors to gather signatures. The main point your editorial writers missed is that, through their allegedly illegal actions, Carpenter, Jacob and Johnson silenced the voices of the Oklahoma voters who signed the initiative petition." From Sam Adams Alliance:"Petitioners did not have an easy job of conducting the drive, however—in fact, they faced an aggressive campaign of blockers who were paid by the opposition to harass petitioners and prevent voters from signing the petitions. Needless to say, as a result many petitioners left Oklahoma, and not enough circulators could be found to successfully continue the drive. However, Paul was then informed that under Oklahoma's residency statute, people could move to Oklahoma, immediately declare residency, and thus qualify to begin circulating a petition. NVO received advice and approval directly from officials in the Secretary of State's office, confirming this information. This information was also consistent with the Oklahoma Supreme Court's ruling in a previous case challenging a petition drive on the basis of residency, as well as with Paul's experience monitoring ballot drives in Oklahoma in the 1990s." Read more...Instead of playing politics and running for governor, maybe W. A. D. should be boning up on his law: "Oklahoma law requires signature gatherers to be residents, and a grand jury that reviewed the evidence found Carpenter, Jacob and Johnson “knowingly, willfully, fraudulently and feloniously” violated that law." Ballot Access News: "The Oklahoma indictment against Paul Jacob, Susan Johnson, and Rick Carpenter, for allegedly conspiring to bring out-of-staters to circulate an initiative petition in Oklahoma in 2006, has been dismissed. However, it is likely to be re-filed. The original indictment apparently suffered from a legal flaw relating to the composition of multi-county grand juries. If there is to be a new indictment, it will be brought directly by Oklahoma’s Democratic Attorney General, Drew Edmondson." Read more... And the cherry on top of the ice cream! "If you don’t like this particular statute, go to the legislature and change it." W.A. Drew Edmondson Related: NW Republican: Paul Jacob persecutor feeling the heat LegalNewsline.com: Edmondson wants activists jailed over ballot signatures Labels: AG, Drew Edmondson, Paul Jacob TABOR, Poultry Lawsuit Posted at 12/03/2007 08:33:00 PM |
OK Media Asleep at the Wheel? It is incredible to us that Oklahoma's mainstream press is ignoring another scandal brewing in the AG's office. From Poultrygate to his now trampling of the U.S. constitution, W.A.D Edmondson's shenanigans have received nary a word from the Tulsa World or The Oklahoman reporters. Are they being told what to write from the executive suites of these newspapers?
Elk City News Publisher Donated $2,500 to AG Edmondson in '06
Edmondson Accepts Contributions from Tulsa World Chairman in '06; Also Receives Paper's Endorsement
Labels: AG, Drew Edmondson Posted at 12/03/2007 08:32:00 PM |
Video: Former Political Prisoner Discusses Edmondson Indictment
Sam Adams Foundation senior advisor and term limits champion Paul Jacob discusses his politically-motivated indictment in Oklahoma and the potential criminalization of politics. Our Constitutional rights of free speech, association and the right to petition are in jeopardy. Find out more at www.samadamsalliance.org and www.freepauljacob.com.
Thursday, November 22, 2007
Labels: AG, Drew Edmondson, Paul Jacob TABOR Posted at 11/27/2007 11:53:00 AM |
Paul Jacob Indictment Dismissed According to the website Ballot Access News, the indictments against Paul Jacobs and two other defendants have been dismissed.
The Oklahoma indictment against Paul Jacob, Susan Johnson, and Rick Carpenter, for allegedly conspiring to bring out-of-staters to circulate an initiative petition in Oklahoma in 2006, has been dismissed. However, it is likely to be re-filed. The original indictment apparently suffered from a legal flaw relating to the composition of multi-county grand juries. If there is to be a new indictment, it will be brought directly by Oklahoma’s Democratic Attorney General, Drew Edmondson.Labels: AG, Drew Edmondson, Paul Jacob TABOR Posted at 11/22/2007 01:51:00 PM |
Edmondson Trying to Intimidate OKPNS?
In the post below, we excerpted and linked to an Arkansas newspaper article that detailed Drew Edmondson using fake FBI agents to serve a summons to a local chicken farmer. Later, we received this email from the editor of the paper. We're taking bets that someone from the AG's office contacted this editor and told her we were using their "copyrighted" material. Iran's president Ahmadinejab would be proud Drew!
From: jlindsey@arkansasonline.com
Sent: Fri 11/16/07 7:46 PM
To: okpns_editor@hotmail.com
Cc: jlindsey@arkansasonline.com
The story on your site at the following URL is copyrighted by the Arkansas
Democrat-Gazette in Little Rock Arkansas and cannot be used online for any
reason. The maximum linkable text to our copyrighted text is one sentence
and one headline. Please remove our copyrighted material from your site and
contact me at jlindsey@arkansasonline.com or 501-399-3664 for details. If
I do not receive an email or call by Wednesday and if this content is not
removed, it will be assumed you are refusing to honor our copyright, We will
proceed to defend our copyrighted material by other legal means. Please contact
me as soon as possible.
http://www.okpns.com/2007/11/ag-edmondson-using-henchman-to.html
Thank you,
Jeff Lindsey
News Editor
ArkansasOnline
501-399-3664
jlindsey@arkansasonline.com
Related:
WSJ Online: Oklahoma's Most Wanted
Labels: AG, Drew Edmondson, Mike Turpin, Poultry Lawsuit Posted at 11/19/2007 09:15:00 AM |
"Ayatollah" Edmondson Condemns Legislators Who Refuse QuransAttorney General Drew Edmondson - who has come to typify arrogance of power and tin ear political instincts - had the sheer audacity to add his name recently to a group that is criticizing legislators who refused to accept Centennial Qurans a few weeks ago. Following in the fine tradition of oppressive Islamic governments around the world, Mr. Edmondon routinely intimidates chicken farmers trying to provide for their families, jails ordinary citizens attempting to petition their government, and disregards the law to achieve his objectives. Way to go Drew!Labels: AG, Drew Edmondson, Paul Jacob TABOR, Poultry Lawsuit Posted at 11/19/2007 08:39:00 AM |
Steve Forbes: "Has North Korea Annexed Oklahoma?"
 An extraordinary incident unfolded in the state of Oklahoma on Oct. 2. Three individuals were arrested, shackled and arraigned. Their crime: trying to curb the spending excesses of Sooner State politicians. They were accused of violating an arcane and certainly unconstitutional law that imposes restrictions on who can circulate petitions in the state.
Paul Jacob--president of the pro-initiative group Citizens in Charge and a senior fellow at the Sam Adams Alliance, a grassroots political organization--and colleagues Susan Johnson and Rick Carpenter incurred the wrath of Oklahoma's Soviet-minded political establishment for trying in 2005 to get an initiative on the ballot to limit state spending. The three could get as many as ten years in prison.
Back in 2005, despite organized harassment from unions and other pro-government forces, Jacob and other activists--with the help of a professional petition-signing firm--managed to collect the required number of names to get the antispending item on the ballot. In a tantrum worthy of an Iranian ayatollah the pro-political class Oklahoma Supreme Court ruled the petitions invalid. Read more...Labels: AG, Drew Edmondson, Paul Jacob TABOR Posted at 11/13/2007 12:40:00 PM |
Video: Brent Rinehart Attends HearingThursday, November 08, 2007Paul Jacob Discusses the Criminalization of Politics Part 1 & 2Friday, October 26, 2007Reynolds: "Why Is a Liberal, Out-of-State Group Praising Edmondson?”FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact: State Rep. Mike Reynolds
Capitol: (405) 557-7337
OKLAHOMA CITY (October 26, 2007) – Although the Washington, DC-based Ballot Initiative Strategy Center (BISC) claims to be a "progressive 'think-and-do' tank" eager to "reinvigorate the initiative process among state and national progressive organizations...." it’s actions undercut that claims, state Rep. Mike Reynolds said today.
BISC statements imply that it upholds the values of democracy and citizen initiative rights, and is a friend of the rule of law.
"But it seems this is only true when BISC wants to advance its own political agenda through initiatives," said Reynolds, R-Oklahoma City, responding to a recent statement issued by the Center. "BISC is apparently all in favor of hauling supporters off to prison if they work for initiatives BISC doesn't like."
An October 22 press release issued by the organization applies its BISC-quicked logic to the case of Paul Jacob, Susan Johnson, and Rick Carpenter, leaders in a recent Oklahoma initiative to limit state spending often referred to as a Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABOR). If convicted of participating in democracy they could go to prison for up to 10 years.
According to BISC, the Oklahoma three are "crooks [who] have worked in this arena long enough to know the laws. They just thought they could get away with ignoring them. In fact, we have found that most right-wing ballot initiative players operate with complete disregard for state laws meant to ensure an open and honest process of putting issues on the ballot."
BISC's blanket characterization of "right-wing ballot initiative players" immediately suggests an ideological bias, Reynolds said.
But worse, said Reynolds, "BISC is dishonest to claim that the Oklahoma Three 'thought they could get away with ignoring' Oklahoma's law that petition circulators be residents. BISC links to Paul Jacob's statement of self-defense but ignores his explanation of how the state changed the rules, after the fact, on what constitutes residency. At freepauljacob.com, Mister Jacob reports in detail on the effort he and others made to ensure that they were complying with the law, a law that contrary to BISC's assertions does not in fact do anything to ensure an open and honest ballot process.
"If BISC thinks Jacob is wrong on the facts, why don't they answer him?" Reynolds asked. "Why don't they refute him? Their attack is clearly not about facts or objective law. It's sad that political activists who make use of the initiative process themselves refuse to see the glaring injustice and unconstitutionality here, which could be extended to them too one day. And it is an Orwellian inversion to imply that abetting the exercise by Oklahoma citizens of their constitutionally guaranteed citizen initiative rights is in and of itself a form of sabotage of those rights."
BISC Executive Director Kristina Wilfore has even gone so far as to submit a letter of praise to Attorney General Edmondson stressing that the TABOR campaign was funded and enjoining Edmondson to look into the "network of funders" that has supported this and other petition drives.
“BISC is not a credible source of information,” said Reynolds. “It’s on the extreme left, supported by donations from the National Abortion Rights Action League and billionaire George Soros's Open Society Foundation. BISC is about using the initiative process to promote the leftwing agenda of its donors. Contrary to its rhetoric about ‘out of state’ interests, BISC itself provides direct donations to ballot measures in multiple states.
“BISC ideologically opposes TABOR initiatives,” said Reynolds. “In 2006, Nebraska campaign filings show that BISC was paid to train people in blocking a TABOR petition drive. A federal judge issued a temporary restraining order against three Nebraska cities because they violated the 1st Amendment rights of TABOR petitioners."
“BISC should be ashamed enough of its admitted role in campaigns designed to harass petitioners and block voters from deciding issues like TABOR,” Reynolds concluded. “But now we see their desire to help in the AG’s witch-hunt against the initiative process, to actually throw their political opponents in prison. That's a sad commentary on BISC.”
The state representative pointed to BISC’s own statement that their help in the prosecution of these three individuals by the AG is “a continuation of those efforts” to block TABOR from the ballot.
### Labels: AG, Drew Edmondson, Paul Jacob TABOR, Rep. Mike Reynolds Posted at 10/26/2007 10:16:00 PM |
Picture of the Day
Courtesy of freepauljacob.com
Labels: AG, Drew Edmondson, Paul Jacob TABOR, Picture of the Day Posted at 10/19/2007 03:52:00 PM | |
