The man who invited Terry Jones

When controversial Florida pastor Terry Jones confirmed his plans to attend a rally in Lansing, reader underdog5056 asked, “Who in the world invited this goon in the first place?”

That would be James Terpening.

Terpening was quick to clarify that the Sept. 7 rally on the steps of the State Capitol in Lansing an event he planned —  and Jones is an invited speaker.

“The rally is the founding public event for my organization, Operation Freedom’s Tree,” Terpening said.

Terpening, 34, said he invited Jones to speak after becoming acquainted with the pastor through mutual friends in the days following Jones’ visit in Dearborn.

Operation Freedom’s Tree will aim to get people more involved in the political process. The United States government has been “distorted” so that it is no longer a people’s government, but a government’s government, Terpening said.

“We need to get people to get involved and stay involved and not just tune out,” Terpening said.

Terpening will launch his organization’s website, www.OperationFreedomsTree.com, on Aug. 22. The site will feature educational information, contact information for elected officials, suggestions for getting involved in the civic process and a list of steps to take to get resolution on an issue.

In many ways, the Sept. 7 rally in Lansing is a debutante party for his organization. Terpening said he has invited a slew of political officials and confirmed a few, too, but isn’t at liberty to divulge specifics just yet.

However, the nascent group has received strong support, Terpening said.

“We already have several hundred people involved behind the scenes,” he said.

Terpening is hoping to leverage that support into monthly meetings and rallies. Just don’t mistake his group for another offshoot of the Republican Party or the Tea Party.

“We’re basically fed up with the system that we live in,” said Terpening, who listed over-taxation as a major issue. “Politicians in office tell us what we want to hear, then make deals with each other based on what keeps them in office and protects their special interests.”

Terpening said he hopes that his organization is able to change that.

“I’m worried about what the future is going to be like for my children and my grandchildren, and all the children and grandchildren that are out there right now," Terpening said.