As both a Democrat and as a musician, Boehner talking about Gibson being treated unfairly

[Fire Walk With Me]

makes me livid.

Boehner was just on MSNBC discussing how only republicans can solve the problems republicans caused with the bush tax cuts, destruction of the middle class and unions/self-representation...and cited the raid on Gibson guitars as an example of big government over-regulation hurting the working man.

Gibson is owned by a VERY rich entrepreneur. Who has now been raided twice on suspicion of using prohibited wood, ignoring the laws of other countries. Boehner of course failed to mention these important FACTS while saying the working man is being hurt by big government. See here:

" In June 2011, the United States Department of Justice filed a civil case against Gibson, stating: 'Gibson sourced its unfinished ebony wood in the form of blanks (for use in the manufacture of fingerboards for Gibson guitars) from Nagel (in Germany), which obtained it exclusively from Roger Thunam (a supplier in Madagascar). Madagascar prohibits the harvest of ebony wood as well as the exportation of unfinished ebony wood.' The filing also made mention of internal emails from 2008 and 2009 that discussed ebony species from Madagascar and plans to harvest it...

Juszkiewicz lashed out at the Justice Department, claiming that it was 'bullying Gibson without filing charges' and stating further: '...We will fight aggressively to prove our innocence.'

The charges against the company constitute a felony, and if proven, the company could face large fines and the executives involved could face jail terms."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gibson_Guitar_Corporation#Recent_criticism_and_controversy

How the fuck does Boehner make a point to discuss Gibson's problems in a national broadcast? Who knows whom? What is going on here?

And worse, Gibson have an egregious history against the interests of musicians and for corporate interests.

In the late 1990s, there were basically two digital musical instrument interface software platforms for Macintosh musicians, Opcode's OMS being one of them. This is how keyboards, mixers etc. and computers communicate.

"In 1998, Opcode was bought by Gibson Guitar Corporation. Development on Opcode products ceased in 1999." -Wikipedia.org, Opcode Systems

Basically, half the Macintosh computer musicians out there were FUCKED by Gibson. IIRC, Gibson even refused to release the code for third-party developers to keep current as a free contribution. There was tremendous shouting and pleading on the internet and music magazines etc. but nothing happened.

There is a lot more. Gibson's owners as far as this individual can see sure don't seem to give a shit about their customers or how their actions harm even those who are not customers. Now they don't seem to give a shit about other country's resource laws and are using mouthpieces like Boehner to get their little way. Claiming that government is getting in the way of jobs creation.

Livid, livid I say.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

1. Easy answer.

First, Gibson donates big $$$ to republicans. He is a conservative at heart. he cheats and uses illegal materials, and he does so knowingly.
Plus it makes a great sound bite, to be repeated by conservatives everywhere.


i can see it now. "SAVE GIBSON FROM THE FEDS!"

[Fire Walk With Me]

4. Well there it is then.

I didn't know that but it makes perfect sense. And is utterly disgusting.

Thanks.

[Romulox]

2. I normally say "Buy American", but in the case of Gibson, try Edwards or Tokai brands, instead.

Or, if you have the cash, try the Heritage brand, made in the REAL Gibson plant in Kalamazoo, Michigan. The current Gibson company uses low-cost labor and shoddy workmanship.

[WCGreen]

3. Well. that's why I buy Martins..

[Fire Walk With Me]

5. I mean FFS...they allow OMS to die outright, HARMING working musicians, then complains about jobs...

...when allowing OMS to die (when talented people begged to personally take care of it as a public service) and harming many who relied on it in a working environment...oh yeah, that's caring for the little man and their jobs. It wouldn't have cost them anything to release the code, but he let it die.

[hifiguy]

6. Gibson's quality control has been so crappy for the last

twenty-plus years it is no surprise that their record-keeping is just as sub-standard. No other guitar maker that uses a lot of exotic woods - Martin, Alembic, Ken Smith, Tobias and Carl Thompson spring immediately to this bass guitarist's mind - is having these problems.

[Fire Walk With Me]

7. KICK!