Starbucks CEO: Hold back donations to D.C. pols

Starbucks Chairman and CEO Howard Schultz is brewing up a boycott of contributions to the campaigns of Washington politicians as a way of breaking the ongoing stalemate in D.C. politics.

If money talks, Schultz figures, it's time to shut off the cash in protest of the inaction in the nation's capital.

As CBS News Correspondent Ben Tracy reported on "The Early Show" Monday, Schultz's frustration seems to mirror that of most Americans tired of the lack of productivity from their elected officials.

Special Section: Campaign 2012

A whopping 82 percent of Americans disapprove of the way Congress is doing its job, according to the latest CBS News/New York Times poll -- Congress' worst rating in 40 years.

It began with an e-mail from Schultz to Starbucks employees in which he expressed frustration over "the lack of cooperation and irresponsibility among elected officials as they have put partisan agendas before the people's agenda."

The e-mail struck a nerve.

By the end of the week, support from some 50 other business honchos convinced Schultz to put action behind his words and call for a halt of contributions by individuals and corporations until Washington gets its act together.

[libshoppe]

The open letter from Starbucks' socialist CEO can be summed up very briefly:

1) Let's curtail capitalist campaign contributions and turn George Soros and the unions loose upon the political landscape before the elections

2) Let's fake an unsustainable uptick in employment based on emotion rather than economics. Our true agenda won't get discovered until after we are assured of four more years of Obamunism.

[Lucy919]

I so respect Howard Shultz and what he is doing.
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But, I am concerned that liberal CEOs will join him and conservative CEOs will not. And, then they'll spend their millions to elect their candidates. What is Howard Schultz doing to see that this doesn't happen?
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Ultimately, we need campaign reform and that includes financing campaigns. Sadly, I don't see it happening in my lifetime.
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[dlgden]

Finally, some one has stood up with a plan that will make the whole Congress accountable.. We have been a Starbucks supportor for eons..... will never stop now. We stand With You Howard !!!!!!

[macscormico]

BRAVO! We had decided to quit contributing to political campaigns because we could never, if we gave all our available money for the rest of our lives, match the money corporations and the "monied" give. Our politicians seem to thrive in this atmosphere of greed and divisiveness, pitting us against one another, and The American Dream is becoming a nightmare. We need politicians who believe in the common good, and don't view it as an antiquated notion. We have created a monster with all this money in politics, and it is time to quit feeding it.
Thank you, Mr. schultz, for getting this ball rolling.

[nanadel02]

Mr Schults i am not a college educated person. so my mail generally lacks proper puncuation and mostly look like run on sentences. however you will get my meaning. as a 2 cup a day for the last years starbucks coffee drinker i think what you propose sounds great however my problem with what you propose is this how about we don't single out the incumbent and stop contributions to all people wanting or holding the job of president. i am willing to do that or i can just withhold my contributions to starbbucks and stop helping you get richer.i know one person won't make a great inmpact on your company but it will make me feel better. thanks. signed no longer a starbucks drinker.

[olive1237]

Dear nanadel02:

For being a non college educated person, you sure sound eloquent. The word incumbent is not one that even people with a university or college degree can accommodate easily in a paragraph, but you use it with such finesse... It sure sounds like the argot of a bleeding congress person, who might just fear $$$ loss due to Mr. Schultz' brilliant proposal. You see, I only heard this man speak once, and it was sufficient to clearly understand the intention of his proposal and his desire to preserve America's best interests. The situation we now face shows that the values that made our nation strong and mighty are failing due to the greed of many and the unscrupulous actions of those succumbing to a game of power. In that struggle to show supremacy of one party over the other, they are debilitating the American Nation, and believe me, they too, will pay the price. If America falls, we all fall... By the way, 2 of us in my family will start drinking Starbucks Coffee. Mr. Schultz certainly knows what he is talking about and is doing something about it! I give him my support 100%. I respect your opinion but invite you to meditate about America's future...Cheers!

[Bachen]

This and any idea that gets Congress to pull together instead of pulling apart is way overdue!!
As a 5th generation REPUBLICAN, turned INDEPENDENT, I don't even recognize my former party now addicted to KOCH! All the ranting
and raving with no progress is so sad :(
I APPLAUD STARBUCKS!!!!

[Schooner131]

Like all those whiny, baby liberals won't fork over $$$ to Obama and his socialist bubs. Please.

[erickson5150]

You forgot to add "nyahh nyahh" and stick your toungue out at them.

[Bachen]

HEY SCHOONER131...HOPE YOU'RE NOT DRIVING UR CAR ON OUR "SOCIALIST ROADS!"OR IF YOU LIVE UP NORTH, HOPE UR REFUSING "SOCIALIST PLOWING"IN FRONT OF UR HOUSE. AND IF U FLY AIRPLANES, WE HOPE U R WORKING HARD TO GET THE "SOCIALIST FAA WORKERS" FIRED!!!
Finally, my husband put his "SOCIALIST A--" on the line in the Coast Guard for you but I guess you didn't appreciate that either!

[erickson5150]

I'd like to see this action coupled with an initiative that gives every Senator & Rep a weekly, video town hall, with attendance limited to constituents and press only (businesses in the constituent area would be included). The pol would explain their previous week of votes and their intentions for the coming week's votes, with a moderated Q&A. I think the technology is there. Heck, I'd even check off a box on my tax return to help fund it.

Elected officials would face a choice:
- don't do them at all, and face the threat of a challenger who pledges to do them regularly
- do them, but parrott only talking points, which the voters would soon see through and grow weary of
- do them as a chance to connect with voters and really experience give and take.

I think I know which option would prolong your political life. Today these forums are pretty much private messages to supporters. If you make them a standard expectation, accommodate them (libraries hosting them for seniors, etc.), and make them valuable for both official and electorate, we have a chance at lessening the importance of campaign funds.

[credibility2]

This would also have to include any donations to the president's re-election campaign and not just those running for re-election in Congress. Wonder how much Starbucks gave to the Obama campaign in 2007-2008?

[wilsonjohn52]

I believe Mr. Schultz said halt donations to ALL politicians in Washington, not just to those running in Congress. You sound like a Republican/Tea Party member who is running scared.

[Learyjd]

Howard Schultz is a genius coming up with this idea. Withhold all contributions to our politicians may get them take notice and listen to "the people's agenda" instead of "partisan agendas". Today Washington could care less what we think and I for one am looking very closely at my representatives are doing and saying. I am very concerned and will vote accordingly as I do not send a dime until something changes. I hope and pray corporate America follows suit and perhaps we will get the message out to these politicians.