Starbucks cups have a message for Congress

A Starbucks employee writes a message on a cup of freshly brewed coffee at a local store in Washington, DC on December 26, 2012. / EVA HAMBACH/AFP/Getty Images

NEW YORK Starbucks is using its coffee cups to jump into the political fray in Washington.

The world's biggest coffee chain is asking employees at cafes in the Washington, D.C. area to scribble the words "Come Together" on cups for drink orders on Thursday and Friday. CEO Howard Schultz says the words are intended as a message to lawmakers about the damage being caused by the divisive negotiations over the "fiscal cliff."

It's the first time employees at Starbucks cafes are being asked to write anything other than customers' names on cups.

While companies generally steer clear of politics to avoid alienating customers, the plea to "Come Together" is a sentiment unlikely to cause controversy. If anything, Starbucks could score points with customers and burnish its image as a socially conscious company.

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This isn't the first time the coffee chain is using its platform to send a political message. In the summer of 2011, Schultz also asked other CEOs and the public to stop making campaign contributions until politicians found a way to deal with a crisis over the debt ceiling that led to a downgrade in the country's credit rating.

For the latest push, Starbucks is taking out an ad in the Washington Post on Thursday showing a cup with the words "Come Together" on it.

The "fiscal cliff" refers to the steep tax hikes and spending cuts set to take effect Jan. 1, unless the White House and Congress reach an agreement to avoid them.

As for whether customers will be confused by the "Come Together" message or understand that it's related to the fiscal cliff, Schultz said in an interview that there's wide public awareness about the negotiations and that Starbucks will use social media to explain the effort. The Seattle-based company says test runs at select stores showed operations wouldn't be slowed.

Schultz says the message is a way to underscore the damage being done to the "consumer psyche and behavior" by the talks. Although he says Starbucks sales haven't been affected, he points out that Wal-Mart Stores Inc. CEO Mike Duke warned that fears over the fiscal cliff could cause Americans to pull back on holiday spending. Early figures have shown a relatively weak shopping season.

As for the negotiations, Schultz isn't taking any sides on the issues of tax increases or spending cuts.

[MissCissi]

Dear congress, Retailers all over America have you on their naughty list. You and your inability to do YOUR JOB resulted in dismal Holiday sales and a country in flux. We don't need Johnny's tears, we need you all to get over yourselves and quit FAILING dismally.

[Larnan5]

You are correct. These so called senators and representatives live off the "welfare" we provide.They are on the dole. They live for one thing, reelection so they can continue taking our money and do nothing for us. They have become a new kind of welfare kings and queens. Comfortably rich and do nothings! This includes Dems,Reps and Tea Party laggards.

[gavindickinson]

here here! we the people are the ones paying their salaries... they are supposed to be representing us... sure doesn't feel like they are anymore...

taxation without representation was what the revolution was about... and we have **** poor representation these days, and plenty of taxation...

seems like we the people need to send these bozos a strong message!

get the work you were hired to do done, or you're all fired!

[okseeusoon]

Congress: Please do the job you were hired to do.