Hooray for Congressman Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) who’s taking a stand for private enterprise and liberty tonight! She’s bringing along a guest to the President’s address to Congress: Gibson Guitar’s CEO Henry Juszkiewicz.
 
In the news quite a bit lately, Gibson Guitar, a Nashville, TN company, is just the latest victim of Obama’s Department of Injustice: Gibson Guitar Corp. Responds to Federal Raid
 
In their war on the private sector and American prosperity, one of the Fed’s weapons-of-choice these days is the Lacey Act. This legislation, passed in 1900, was originally designed to stop trade in illegal wild game (mainly elephants/ ivory). But over time it was amended to cover many natural resources, eventually including wood. So far, so good. But it also includes an obscure provision which makes it a federal crime to violate the fish and wildlife regulations of any other nation on the planet. The Lacy Act is the club they’re using to bludgeon Gibson with.
 
And why not – it was really effective when they used it on Abbie Schoenwetter, a Florida seafood importer/distributor. This poor man lost his business, his health and his family (not to mention years of his life in prison!) before the federal thugs were through with him.
Heritage Foundation has a video on Schoenwetter’s story – and he’s not the only victim of this persecution by a long shot.
 
So you gotta love Rep. Blackburn’s “in-your-face” move. Here’s the statement she released yesterday:

 

“Gibson Guitar is at the heart of this jobs debate, and is an example of exactly why President Obama has it wrong when it comes to getting our economy back on track. Maybe if the President spent more time finding real solutions to empowering small business owners and less time hindering businesses like Gibson, we’d see more new jobs being created.
 
“Small businesses under the leadership of executives like Henry are the key to getting our nation’s economic engine running again. While the President is busy delivering speeches, small business leaders like Henry are busy trying to deliver results. The best thing President Obama could do is seek their advice, then get out of the way. Big government doesn’t create jobs, small businesses like Gibson Guitar do.”

 
Sure looks like they’ve got a lot of spunk in the “Volunteer State”!
 
Have to give credit where it’s due: Speaker of the House Boehner is also hosting several business owners tonight – (including White Castle COO Lisa Ingram) Michelle Malkin has the full list – the people who really create jobs!
 
Hey – this could make Obama’s address worth watching!
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One Nation Under Arrest