Gibson guitars was raided earlier this week over a claim of illegally harvested hardwoods for fretboard manufacturers. Despite claims of bullying, the federal government has made similar raids against Gibson Guitars in the past, in 2009.
See quote below and click here for video of an interview with CEO Henry Juszkiewicz noted the hypocrisy of the raid and of the Obama administration, who allegedly believes that Americans need to work:
“So the government’s contention is that because American workers are working on that and finishing it, that it is not a finished product and, therefore, initially Madagascar law – and now I guess they’re contending Indian law – says you can’t remove unfinished product from the market. So in other words, if a person in Madagascar had completed the work on that blank, it would be legal. But the fact that American workers are finishing the work in the United States, makes it illegal, as far as their concerned.”
“The government’s position is, that is the law of the land in Madagascar and they are saying that is the law of the land in India. That is not the case. The fact is, we have affidavits from numerous government officials – and this court case, specifically now, is for Madagascar wood. We have affidavits from virtually every govt official saying that it is legal, that their definition of what is legal is a fingerboard blank and its been exported within every certification that is necessary. So they have the arrogance to interpret Madagascar law differently than the people of Madagascar.”
I don't know if the Obama administration would call it "arrogance". After all, isn't he smarter than the rest of us?
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