(Image Source: Starbucks)
BY KYLIE MCGIVERN
Starbucks’ CEO is brewing a strong message to U.S. Government: No debt deal? Fine. Until then, no campaign donations. FOX News has more on the bitter boycott.
“You know, this fascinated me. It all began with an internal memo, Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz, relaying how frustrated he had become with elected officials on both sides, who never seemed to get anything, anything at all done. So Schultz had an idea. Companies should stop all political contributions and use the dough instead, to create jobs themselves. Lets just say something percolated, because now a lot of similarly critical and now caffeinated company bosses in their own right, say Schultz is dead-on right.”
Schultz launched this FB page Wednesday, and he says more than 100 fellow CEO’s and business leaders have signed the pledge.
Starbucks CEO: “You took an oath of office to represent all of America, not ideology, not partisanship but please do the work we sent you to do. We deserve better than this.”
Anchor: “Good for you, I agree with you. Everything has gotten so toxic Howard. So tell me about the responses you’ve gotten to the campaign. NASDEQ’s CEO Bob Greifeld, NYSE’s Duncan Niederauer are among those who have signed on - who else has has gotten signed on?”
Starbucks CEO: “Well the response is Republicans and Democrats.”
MSNBC
Some worry the lack of sizable campaign donations could perhaps sway election votes away from Democrats. CNNMoney reports where Shultz stands.
“Schultz's own political donations, as chronicled by the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics, skew heavily Democratic. Out of a total $183,650 in donations, only $1,000 went to Republican candidates.”
But Forbes quotes two supporters who say the debt issues extend beyond party lines.
Now -- It’s time for business leaders to step up.
rDialogue CEO: “Neither party … is well liked at the moment but Schultz is on to something: it’s up to businesses, and entrepreneurs, to make the situation better.”
MarketingCharts Editor: “This is a great idea... the removal of corporate and special interest influence from U.S. politics can only produce positive results.”
But the Stabucks’ bandwagon isn’t pulling everyone on board
An opinion writer for the Seattle Times calls Schultz’s call to action -- or, lack of it--
“...an abdication of that individual responsibility to take part in determining our own future. It is a call that should be ignored...The problems the nation faces are mind-numbingly massive... For the price of a few of Schultz's signature drinks, the average American has the chance to help his or her chosen side. Schultz's call to disengage from one's social responsibility is exactly the opposite of what we should be doing.”
The pledge is picking up steam, with AOL, Whole Foods, and J Crew are among the companies that have signed the pledge that’s picking up steam.
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