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GIBSON GUITARS GETS “CRUCIFIED”
The long persecution of Gibson Guitars by the Obama Administration has finally come to a close, with the battered company agreeing to pay a $300,000 fine to bring a three-year Justice Department investigation to a close. The settlement includes $50,000 paid to a federal conservation fund, and the surrender of the valuable wood seized in federal raids, which is worth several hundred thousand dollars. According to some media reports, Gibson might have a chance to recover some of the wood.
The case, as summarized by the Examiner:
Two central issues were at play in the government’s claims against Gibson. Justice claimed in the first instance that the fingerboards Gibson imported from India were unfinished. The guitar fingerboards would thus require finishing by American workers once they reached the United States. But India’s laws require exported fingerboards to be finished by its own workers prior to shipment.
The Obama administration insisted that Indian law be followed. Gibson maintained it was more important to protect and create American jobs by allowing American workers to conduct the finishing process.
Justice further claimed that Gibson had violated international environmental laws by using ebony from Madagascar and India. And when Justice announced today the settlement with Gibson, U.S. Attorney Jerry Martin stated, “The criminal enforcement agreement goes a long way in demonstrating the government’s commitment to protecting the world’s natural resources.”
This is perfectly in keeping with the central economic theory of the Obama Administration, memorably described as “crucifixion” by former EPA official Al Armendariz in a video the public was never supposed to see. “It was kind of like how the Romans used to, you know, conquer villages in the Mediterranean,” Armendariz explained. “They’d go into a little Turkish town somewhere, they’d find the first five guys they saw, and they’d crucify them.”
Suspicions that Gibson Guitars’ real crime was locating its operations in right-to-work Tennessee remain. The remainder of the American business community should be comforted to know that a highly-respected company can be persecuted for years, subjected to multiple armed raids, and suffer nearly half a million dollars in losses because a bureaucrat decides they’re guilty of a “crime” no one can explain, after a “violation” no one complained about, of a law that ostensibly champions conservationist principles the CEO wholeheartedly endorses. I just can’t understand why nobody is hiring in Obama’s America.
Unneutral
August 9th, 2012
There were actually three central issues, the third most relevant was the fact that Gibson didn’t donate heavily to the Obama campaign.
Boobie the Rocket Dog
August 9th, 2012
WHY?? They couldn’t hold on for six months?
Tim
August 9th, 2012
Well, next time when Axelrod calls for a donation, they’ll pony up!
Team America
August 9th, 2012
What I don’t understand is where are all of the musicians and their outcry over this? There are many people who love and use Gibson guitars/instruments. Why aren’t they standing up against this obomination?
Xavier
August 9th, 2012
The Gibson Crucifixion will pale in comparison to The Chick-fil-A Retaliation.
It’s personal now. Coming Winter ’12.
venturaguy
August 9th, 2012
I just hope Mitt Romney fires everyone he can that was involved in this – ala Bill Clinton
Stirrin the B.S.
August 9th, 2012
@Team America – “….What I don’t understand is where are all of the musicians and their outcry over this?….”
Hehehe, I know that your tongue was firmly planted in your cheek with that comment!
conservativeBC
August 9th, 2012
furhat – I am going to see if my site is still screwed by sending you the headline of the year. If I can get it to go through. They said it should be good to go now.
Robber who broke into hair salon, beat up by black-beolt, horny, female domiatrix owner and kept as a sex slave … fed only Viagra
http://im41.com/archives/11899
RANDO
August 9th, 2012
!
Stirrin the B.S.
August 9th, 2012
This whole charade was nothing more than a show of power over Gibson. The CEO, Henry Juszkiewicz, is a conservative, and as the article points out, he moved his company to a right-to-work state.
Some whack job, tree hugging, eco-goon probably complained about the “exotic” woods used in the guitars, and the Obumphuk DOIJ saw it as an opportunity to extract a little revenge.
“….The remainder of the American business community should be comforted to know that a highly-respected company can be persecuted for years, subjected to multiple armed raids, and suffer nearly half a million dollars in losses because a bureaucrat decides they’re guilty of a “crime” no one can explain, after a “violation” no one complained about, of a law that ostensibly champions conservationist principles the CEO wholeheartedly endorses. I just can’t understand why nobody is hiring in Obama’s America….”
Yuup, laser-focused on jobs alright. Shall we say, focusing the laser on existing jobs in order to destroy them??
Billy Fuster
August 9th, 2012
Keep it up you assholes.
Tracy
August 9th, 2012
ANY STARS FOR SOLIDARITY, SUPPORT OR INTEGRITY ?
There’ve been songs written & performed for lesser causes. Such tyranny at least garners some form of acknowledgement. What’s the bottom line for such idiots? Redistribution of freedom. ASSH*LES!
NObama2012
Dismas In Wonderland
August 9th, 2012
Obama’s promise to America, “Under my plan the price of everything will necessarily sky rocket”.
Robert Fine
August 9th, 2012
Curiously, they didn’t touch Martin guitar (an avid democrat donor), an “offender” just the same as Gibson.
And as an avid guitar buyer/collector, I won’t even look a Martin, or buy Martin parts.
DanlBoone
August 9th, 2012
m00pa
August 9th, 2012
Martin Guitar donated to Obama’s slush fund, so there is little worry for them … nothing like being a party pin holder here in the Nazi Father Lan … err … I mean the good ol’ USA.
Honest Politicians 4 Sale
August 9th, 2012
I love the finger board on my Gibson flat top.
This was an intentional hit on Gibson as the people of India never made a complaint about it.
All musicians that I know have great respect for the Gibson company. I hope that will transfer into disrespect for the sorry piece of shit for a president that some of them might have voted for.
sTevo
August 9th, 2012
The Obama administration insisted that Indian law be followed.
What a f#cking asshole we have for a prezy.
Justice further claimed that Gibson had violated international environmental laws by using ebony from Madagascar and India.
Some tribal dude is just going to burn the trees for fuel anyway. Why not fabricate something other than a camp fire with this wood. F#ckers.
Anonymous
August 9th, 2012
TO DO LIST:
1. Vote Obama to the curb.*
2. This Christmas, buy someone a Gibson.
*and hope he goes to prison someday.
Mystery Tramps Real Eyes
August 10th, 2012
They set out to hurt Gibson Guitar Company for not bowing down to the obama dictatorship.
The total damages will probably be close to a million dollars or more, so obama and Holder can pat themselves on the back for a job well done.
But as long as there is music, there will be a Gibson Guitar Company. Hussein obama would have to kill us all before he could take away our music.
Payback time starts this November. Be there!