“I've created about 250,000 direct and indirect jobs according to the state of Nevada's measurement. If the number is 250,000, that's exactly 250,000 more than this president, who I'll be damned if I want to have him lecture me about small business and jobs. I'm a job creator. Guys like me are job creators and we don't like having a bulls-eye painted on our back. The president is trying to put himself between me and my employees. By class warfare, by deprecating and calling a group that makes money 'billionaires and millionaires who don't pay their share.' I gave 120% of my salary and bonus away last year to charities, as I do most years. I can't stand the idea of being demagogued, that is put down by a president who has never created any jobs and who doesn't even understand how the economy works.”
—Steve Wynn, CEO of Wynn Resorts, on President Obama“When I began the company, it was just me. So by definition, I certainly started it myself. I didn't get money from a bank or from an investor. I started the company with the confidence that made me willing to risk a year's worth of savings, even if I ended up not making a dime writing and selling software." ”
—Ben Bruno, Op-Ed, “Mr. President: I Did Build My Business,” Richmond Times-Dispatch, 7/22/12
Entrepreneurs, like Ben Bruno, who come up with big ideas and take risks make America the unique and great nation it is. They’re the lifeblood of the economy and ought to be encouraged, not denigrated.
Virginia bakery owner turns down campaign stop from Joe Biden; Secret Service thanks him for saying "no"
Citing President Obama’s recent “You didn’t build that” remarks, a small business owner in Virginia turned down a campaign stop at his bakery by Vice President Joe Biden.
from WDBJ7:
Wednesday morning, advance teams for Vice President Joe Biden walked in.
“I approached her she said Joe Biden is coming to town today,” McMurray said.
“Crumb and Get It” is a mom and pop store. Literally. Chris and his wife Kelly run the place and need all the business they can get.
McMurray said the Vice President’s entourage got to the point and made its pitch.
“She said they have selected ‘Crumb and Get It” to be his stop on his way to Blacksburg and was wondering if that was ok.”
Here’s the part that might make other business owners crazy.
“This is an opportunity of a lifetime but essentially I said ‘No offense to you or the campaign but I just decline you guys coming in here. At that time she said ‘Are you sure? There’s going to be a lot of press, a lot of activity,’” McMurray said.
Why in the world would a new business owner say “no” to a photo op with the Vice President of the United States?
McMurray said it was President Obama’s recent remarks about small business and who built what.
“Very simply, ‘you didn’t build that’” McMurray said. “Speaking of small businesses and entrepreneurs all across this country and actually last night my wife was up all night. No sleep, she’s worked a full 24 hours.”
But here’s the kicker… Shortly after McMurray turned down Vice President Biden’s campaign operatives, the Secret Service stopped in for a little visit. They thanked him for turning down Vice President Biden.
Here’s the back story, we’re told that shortly after Crumb and Get It told Biden’s advance people ‘no’ — the secret service walked in and told Chris McMurray ”Thanks for standing up and saying ‘no’ — then they bought a whole bunch of cookies and cupcakes.
McMurray said he’s hoping folks will understand he just didn’t want to be part of a photo op for an administration whose policies he doesn’t agree with.
One has to admire this guy’s audacity. I don’t believe this will be a negative on his business in any way. As a matter of fact, all this press he’s getting will probably be great for his bottom line.
And God bless those Secret Service agents.
“Personal property is the effect of society; and it is as impossible for an individual to acquire personal property without the aid of society, as it is for him to make land originally. Separate an individual from society, and give him an island or a continent to possess, and he cannot acquire personal property. He cannot be rich. So inseparably are the means connected with the end, in all cases, that where the former do not exist the latter cannot be obtained. All accumulation, therefore, of personal property, beyond what a man's own hands produce, is derived to him by living in society; and he owes on every principle of justice, of gratitude, and of civilization, a part of that accumulation back again to society from whence the whole came." ”
— Thomas PaineAtlas Shrugged passage Regarding Obama's Comments
- “He didn’t invent iron ore and blast furnaces, did he?”
- “Who?”
- “Rearden. He didn’t invent smelting and chemistry and air compression. He couldn’t have invented his Metal but for thousands and thousands of other people. His Metal! Why does he think it’s his? Why does he think it’s his invention? Everybody uses the work of everybody else. Nobody ever invents anything.”
- She said, puzzled, “But the iron ore and all those other things were there all the time. Why didn’t anybody else make that Metal, but Mr. Rearden did?”
