Howard Schultz, Starbucks CEO, Talks About Boycott On Campaign Contributions (VIDEO)

Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz spoke to CNN Money on Tuesday about what he hopes to accomplish with his recently announced boycott on political contributions.

As reported by The Huffington Post's Dan Froomkin, Schultz is calling on Americans and fellow business leaders to halt all campaign donations until politicians stop squabbling and demonstrate a capacity to work toward compromise on long-term fiscal issues.

New York Times columnist Joe Nocera recently wrote in an op-ed:

In effect, Schultz thinks the country should go on strike against its politicians. “The fundamental problem,” he said, “is that the lens through which Congress approaches issues is re-election. The lifeblood of their re-election campaigns is political contributions.”

The message from the Starbucks CEO comes on the heels of the protracted debate over raising the nation's debt ceiling. He reiterated the sentiment on Tuesday.

"All it seems people are interested in is re-election," Schultz explained. "And that re-election -- the lifeblood of it is fundraising."

He urged employers to "grow their companies, start hiring and stop waiting for Washington." He added, "We can spread a feeling of confidence in America."

WATCH (via CNN):

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Comments

[standridgedar]

09:00 AM on 08/19/2011

Schultz makes an enormous multimillion dollar salary for running a chain of coffee shops.

He could make his own contribution to dealing with the Debt by paying higher taxes.

[motherofonyx]

01:13 AM on 08/19/2011

Finally someone with enough courage to speak his real thoughts about the current situation, I refuse to donate anything towards political parties, thanks to the current economic situation myself and many others are pushed into early retirement, under-employed, not employed, losing our homes, our men & women are dying on foreign land, we lose the seals and the main focus on the news is their stupid re-election! Didn't their parents teach them any morals about anything?They just don't get it? Numerous degrees combined and they can't figure it out.How about having companies retrain their people prior to downsizing or throwing them out the door in the name of productivity. Go into most retail stores at night and they have 3 people covering the entire market! It is all about pleasing the shareholders to hell with the customers and associates employed there.

[standridgedar]

12:26 PM on 08/20/2011

You think Howard Schultz is the solution to the problem you accurately describe?

For your information, Schultz has laid off thousands of people at Starbucks. He is a billionaire, but he pays his store managers only $45,000 a year. He is a perfect example of the problem.

[nofool46]

12:31 PM on 08/18/2011

I love the idea but it can't be voluntary, it must become law. Please sign my petition to allow for all political campaigns to be publicly funded. This will even the playing field and attract Americans who truly wish to serve the public and are not tempted by greed. Make all political monetary contributions, meals, and gifts illegal. http://signon.org/sign/total-public-funding)

[dano376]

02:30 AM on 08/18/2011

Sounds to good to be true; But hey let's all give it a shot, THAT INCLUDES YOU TOO CORPERATE AMERICA. KEEP YOUR MONEY IN YOUR CORPS. No influrence peddling here..

[Seguine1]

01:45 AM on 08/18/2011

Don't let Schultz fool you! He is one of the biggest phonies and hypocrites in all of corporate America. He has ordered the layoff of tens of thousands of Starbucks employees over the past few years. He has cut and in some cases, completely eliminated, basic employee benefits. He raises health insurance premiums every year. He gives himself obscene raises. He talks as if he cares about the average american, but he is every bit as greedy as any other CEO. He is nothing more than a world class bullshitter!

[wdw808]

08:05 AM on 08/18/2011

it is all part of the game........get over it

[bpeterson1931]

10:41 PM on 08/25/2011

I suggest a boycott of Starbucks until the CEO's total annual income is held at no more than 100 times the annual income of the lowest paid full time employee. Full time in this case to be any employee working 80 or more hours a month for 3 or more consecutive months.

[MarcusCassius]

11:29 PM on 08/17/2011

I love the idea. Problem is, the Supreme Court decided corporations were people. And these "people" have no scruples, and they don't play by nice civil rules. They cut your heart out and eat it in front of you, take your money and give it to the richest with cream and sugar. If these WERE people they would be locked up as phsychopathic killers. We stop giving money and they will double theirs so they get what they want.

[dano376]

02:33 AM on 08/18/2011

WOW ! ! ! ! ! ! THATS A REALLY "GOOD" EYE OPENING , WELL PUT COMMENT....


:-O)

[Ray Adams]

05:14 PM on 08/24/2011

Thats because the Koch Brothers bought the Supreme Court.I have no faith in congress to get any deal done.

[fjdoran]

05:50 PM on 08/17/2011

Right on, Mr. Shultz! Now if we could only get the CEOs of all the other big business to boycott campaign contributions, we might get somewhere.

[tempist771]

05:02 PM on 08/17/2011

I think I need some coffee!

[bobesposit]

04:59 PM on 08/17/2011

I applaude this stand. I'm 65 years old, and I don't think I ever saw such a bad representation of what our country needs to do, versus the self-serving positions of the current elected officials. I believe President Obama is trying to get both Republicans and Democrats to work together, but the individual congressmen are so entrenched in their positions, that it is gridlock. We can't afford to be this dividided at such a critical time for our economy. I think everyone knows that businesses need to make money, but so do the workers. And for top corporate executives and key employees to get millions of dollars of bonuses, while those same companies lay-off or fire lower level workers is contributing to the continuing problem. The term "they are killing the goose that lays the golden eggs" applies. Between CEO's and Washington, we need sanity to emerge, so EVERY AMERICAN can share in a prosperous economy, and can enjoy being a citizen in a great country. One class can't grab it all. Robert Esposito

[Joebudgie]

08:22 PM on 08/17/2011

Amen, Robert Esposito. Exellent comment. Joe Papierz

[Mikebentl]

03:40 PM on 08/17/2011

Thank you Howard Schultz. This will not make the politicians more honest or start caring about the American people, but it will force them to deal with the issues at hand once they realize their money pit will dry up if they don't.

[Halyn]

03:27 PM on 08/17/2011

Thank you for speaking out, Mr. Schultz. Right now there is a proposed "28th Amendment" loose on the internet .. it is not a reality, yet, but hopefully if enough people call for it .. it will have some positive results. You are right .. "re-election" is the game .. and socking as much money, etc. during that time is Rule #1.

[Erica McClellan]

03:21 PM on 08/17/2011

I say, NO reelection for ANY of them. Wipe that hole clean and start over!

[MarcusCassius]

11:31 PM on 08/17/2011

Nice pun.

[Views from the Middle]

03:20 PM on 08/17/2011

Schultz makes good points, and it's a good start. Our elected officials need to reach across the isle and work together to get America back on track. But I'm beginning to think that the elected officials are limited by what Federal employees tell them. There are MANY unelected Federal employees who control budgets and make decisions that are not in the best interest of America, but are in the best interest of them keeping their jobs. Just within the Defense department, there is waste, redundancy, poor decisions, and strategic policy that is coming from the Generals and Admirals, rather than from our elected officials. Our elected officials are being INFORMED by department heads, rather LEADING the strategy direction of many of the Federal departments.

[rakigal]

02:37 PM on 08/17/2011

I agree with you ... its a start..... However I believe we need to reform the election process ! Apparent since the Florida fiasco. Why is it that the President can STOP WORK to campaign ? We could make it illegal for anyone to be able to buy a politican... TV time should be mimimal,.equal for all and free .. Then maybe they would communicate their platform and stop the bulliying behavior that is so embarrassingto the
American public... This would be a good start... however we need some honest ethical political people to get onboard ! ?! Are there ANY !

[ranroddeb]

02:55 PM on 08/17/2011

Stop work? Re-election has been his sole focus since being elected. He can't be bothered by trivial matters such as running the country, he has campaigning to do.

[hmstrac]

03:23 PM on 08/17/2011

He does take brakes from campigning for things playing golf and going the Martha's Vineyard. I all most added fund rasiers, but that is campaigning. He seems tobe doing a lot of talking for a "Listening Tour".

[MarcusCassius]

11:33 PM on 08/17/2011

and reforming the medical system and building national health care and creating jobs instead of losing them. Yeah, he's just a goof off. Shall we talk about the 6 months Bush took off in his first year?

[relaford]

03:10 PM on 08/17/2011

I agree with you about the TV time. Each candidate should be allowed a certain amount, and that's it. There are probably good, honest, capable people out there who'd do a good job, but don't have the mega bucks to run, and can't hope for large contributions from corporations, and lobbyists, because they aren't part of the influential Washington crowd. If they were onm more of an equal footing with those already in office, maybe they'd have a chance. You're right about the campaigning too. That should be limited to weekends, and their vacations, if that's how they choose to spend their vacation. Taxpayers should definitely not be paying them to campaign.

[Deancamdek]

02:34 PM on 08/17/2011

I applaud Mr. Schultz; however, he addresses only part of the problem in Washington. I wish there was a way to get every American shook up or just plain MAD. Yes, we should go on strike against the politicans. They should not have a life-time free ride after election. They already have enough money or they wouldn't be there to start with. Cut their salary (they are working for us), end benefits (health, retirement; let them get their own through the private sector as we have to do) while in office and after. Who keeps us up?
Whether democrat or repulician it should apply to all. We should elect Surpreme Court Justice judges as any other office, it shouldn't be a lifetime job.
Obama is right about taxing millionairs and big corporations. We the little people have supported this country far too long. The richer get richer, the poorer gets poorer.
This country needs a revolution. We have enabled politicans by voting them in office. We should revolt and let them know we are sick and tired of all government as we know it.
Please, someone with radio, television, facebook, Utube get the ball rolling.