Obama attacks Gibson Guitars!

[Wild Bill]

Here's the link:

http://www.change.org/petitions/the-president-of-the-united-states-resolve-gibson-guitar-inquiry-protect-consumers-and-make-lacey-act-fair?utm_medium=facebook&utm_source=share_petition&utm_term=own_wall

"On Wednesday, August 24th, 2011, agents for the U.S. government executed four search warrants on Gibson Guitar’s facilities in Nashville and Memphis, Tennessee, and seized several pallets of wood, electronic files and guitars. The raids forced Gibson to cease manufacturing operations and send workers home for the day while armed agents of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service executed the search warrants for ebony and rosewood that was imported from India.

The federal officials claim that Gibson violated the Lacey Act, which stipulates that a company cannot import wood in a manner that’s against the laws of the country the wood is coming from. However, Gibson has complied with Indian law and no concerns have been raised by the Indian government."

So now another demographic has reason not to support Obama and it's a BIG one! Obviously, some treehuggers have found another target to crucify to try to prove some damn obtuse point! As usual, Obama's crew is right behind them!

Obama and his advisors may not have thought this one all the way through. Traditionally, the music industry is almost solidly leftwing and Democrat. Traditionally, Gibson guitars have been icons, topped only perhaps by Martin for acoustics and Fender for electrics and even then they would be very close calls.

This action can have more negative effects for Obama than might be first considered.

[GostHacked]

Made in the USA!

[Shady]

Another example of Obama's war on jobs. The Boeing situation is even worse. He has the Labor Board going after them, all for wanting to build a new manufacturing plant. And he wonders why the economy continues to remain flat on its back. Like I've said before. The economy won't really recover again until this jackass is as far out of office as possible.

[waldo]

Obama attacks!!! Obama & treehuggers crucifying Gibson Guitars!!!

say what? Apparently, Gibson has quite an admirable long standing position moving towards sourcing its wood supply from sustainable forests... however, the recent and earlier 2009 U.S. Federal Investigations appear legitimate in terms of possible Gibson import violations from illegal supply sources.

Wild Bill, is your extended reach intended to suggest your highlighted 'demographic', the, as you say, almost solidly leftwing/Democratic music industry, would be adverse to investigations of companies (possibly) sourcing illegal wood products... an action that would, presumably, counter the prevailing movement towards sustainably managed forests and related forest certifications?

Edited September 15, 2011 by waldo

[Moonlight Graham]

Maybe Obama and some of his buds in the White House are making a band and they wanted some vintage 1950's Les Paul's but their wives said "those toys are too expensive dear" so they had to to "confiscate" them for free.

[GostHacked]

Obama attacks!!! Obama & treehuggers crucifying Gibson Guitars!!!

say what? Apparently, Gibson has quite an admirable long standing position moving towards sourcing its wood supply from sustainable forests... however, the recent and earlier 2009 U.S. Federal Investigations appear legitimate in terms of possible Gibson import violations from illegal supply sources.

Wild Bill, is your extended reach intended to suggest your highlighted 'demographic', the, as you say, almost solidly leftwing/Democratic music industry, would be adverse to investigations of companies (possibly) sourcing illegal wood products... an action that would, presumably, counter the prevailing movement towards sustainably managed forests and related forest certifications?

You are not getting it. They want to make this retro active, meaning that guitars purchased years/decades ago are affected by this new regulation or whatever it is. Your Gibson could be 60 years old ... guess what .. bye bye guitar.

[waldo]

You are not getting it. They want to make this retro active, meaning that guitars purchased years/decades ago are affected by this new regulation or whatever it is. Your Gibson could be 60 years old ... guess what .. bye bye guitar.

who is "they"... I've read one lawyers statement that's now been swirled around blogsworld. If it were to apply, my understanding is that any retroactive element lies strictly with the shipment(s) in question. Of the two investigations ((1) in 2009 and (2) this past month): my understanding is that the earlier 2009 shipment was confiscated at the Gibson plant... (no guitars were made; hence, no presumed retroactive confiscation, even if it applied or was pursued); the most recent investigation, similarly, hasn't resulted in any manufacture (hence, as well, no presumed retroactive confiscation, even if it applied or was pursued).

[BubberMiley]

Your Gibson could be 60 years old ... guess what .. bye bye guitar.

Are you really stupid enough to believe that?

[GostHacked]

Are you really stupid enough to believe that?

http://www.npr.org/blogs/therecord/2011/08/31/140090116/why-gibson-guitar-was-raided-by-the-justice-department

Others in the guitar world aren't so upbeat. Attorney Ronald Bienstock says the Gibson raids have aroused the guitar builders he represents because the Lacey Act is retroactive. He says they're worried they might be forced to prove the provenance of wood they acquired decades ago.

IF that is the case, then old guitars will be affected.

[jbg]

Another guitar-hater, albeit of Taylor guitars

Edited September 18, 2011 by jbg

[BubberMiley]

IF that is the case, then old guitars will be affected.

They're "worried it might be". That means it isn't. Your article also says the government is trying to get exemptions on the 100-year-old act for old instruments.

I guess you missed that part.

[GostHacked]

They're "worried it might be". That means it isn't. Your article also says the government is trying to get exemptions on the 100-year-old act for old instruments.

I guess you missed that part.

IT's all incremental, this will be the first step.

[waldo]

IT's all incremental, this will be the first step.

first they came for guitars and I remained silent; I had no guitar... then they came for the guns and I remained silent; I had no guns......................

[GostHacked]

first they came for guitars and I remained silent; I had no guitar... then they came for the guns and I remained silent; I had no guns......................

They are already have and still are going after the guns.

[August1991]

I suspect that Fender informed the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service of the wood Gibson uses.

This is what happens when Big Government regulates: it becomes another player on the chessboard.

[Michael Hardner]

People have raised concerns that China, India and others don't have the same environmental regulations so it puts domestic industries at disadvantage. This seems to fall into that category.

[BubberMiley]

People have raised concerns that China, India and others don't have the same environmental regulations so it puts domestic industries at disadvantage. This seems to fall into that category.

No, they can't sell endangered rainforest wood in the US either.

Edited September 18, 2011 by BubberMiley

[Michael Hardner]

No, they can't sell endangered rainforest wood in the US either.

So what are we sad about, exactly ? The US is getting wise to companies that export jobs and try to get around American regulations. This sounds like evening the playing field to me.

[Oleg Bach]

Made in the USA!

They are a fine guitar - one tree probably makes the fret boards of a thousand instruments - so it is not and should not be an issue - those who attack Gibson should focus on attacking China - to harm great American fine instrument making is an attack on culture - when was the last time Obama pulled of a sheering solo through a Marshal stack with a fine Gibson in hand? NEVER! cos the guy is an idiot with no culture or creative ablity what so ever - so they HATE those with the "gift" - It's like taking the harps away from angels...purely mean spirited..

[Sir Bandelot]

I heard he can dance good though.

[treehugger]

You are not getting it. They want to make this retro active, meaning that guitars purchased years/decades ago are affected by this new regulation or whatever it is. Your Gibson could be 60 years old ... guess what .. bye bye guitar.

they won't be getting mine!

[treehugger]

Is this just something to take the pressure of the do nothing president?

What stupidity and yes I am a treehugger, you wouldn't be alive today if it wasn't for trees protecting the earth and water.

[GostHacked]

Is this just something to take the pressure of the do nothing president?

What stupidity and yes I am a treehugger, you wouldn't be alive today if it wasn't for trees protecting the earth and water.

Trees give me many things, most importantly .. O2. I am quite fond of trees and what they do, and they do it for free!

[Oleg Bach]

Trees give me many things, most importantly .. O2. I am quite fond of trees and what they do, and they do it for free!

A tree gives life - and an instrument that bring about life more abundantly...Music is the language of the angels - and to oppress a fine guitar maker is pure envious evil.

[waldo]

A tree gives life - and an instrument that bring about life more abundantly...Music is the language of the angels - and to oppress a fine guitar maker is pure envious evil.

you can't postulate on, "tree life-giving", if you're prepared to accept the potential loss of endangered varieties of wood (trees) that go into the manufacture of your "life bringing instrument". As I alluded to earlier, Gibson has a past proven and admirable engagement towards purchasing wood from sustainable sources. However, they have apparent "possible" past transgressions related to the improper sourcing of wood; ones that reflect upon the two stated investigations (2009 and this recent past month).