A Lot of People Really Don’t Want Ex-Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz to Run for President as an Independent
The former CEO of Starbucks, Howard Schultz, teased a potential presidential bid on CBS 60 Minutes on Sunday, January 29, leaving Twitter to, well, roast the former coffee boss’ decision.
“I love our country, and I am seriously considering running for president as a centrist independent,” Schultz said during the interview, and again tweeted after. In a video posted separately, he further explained why he’s considering running as an independent.
“The question I think we all should be asking ourselves is: At this time in America, when there’s so much evidence that our political system is broken — that both parties at the extreme are not representing the silent majority of the American people — isn’t there a better way?”
While some Twitter users were quick to send Schultz Starbucks-related questions for the sake of comedy, others cautioned the 65-year-old billionaire against running at all.
“Please don’t,” tweeted Human Rights Campaign communications staffer Charlotte Clymer. “If you love our country, put your resources into fighting voter suppression or gerrymandering. Maybe throw yourself into increasing representation of vulnerable communities in government. Don’t run for president.”
Clymer wasn’t the only tweeter to suggest that Schultz do something more productive with his money, like help restore clean water to the city of Flint, Michigan. Others urged Schultz to back a strong Democratic party candidate instead of running himself, with some arguing that running as an independent would take votes from the Dems and hurt chances of getting President Trump out of office.
Even the president weighed in online early Monday morning. “Howard Schultz doesn’t have the ‘guts’ to run for President,” Trump tweeted. “Watched him on @60Minutes last night and I agree with him that he is not the ‘smartest person.’ Besides, America already has that! I only hope that Starbucks is still paying me their rent in Trump Tower!”
Third-party candidates have not done very well historically in presidential elections, and have, in some cases, been at least partly cited in major upsets. Green Party candidate Ralph Nader is still considered to have played a major role in President George W. Bush’s 2000 win. And some still blame Green candidate Jill Stein for breaking up liberal votes to get Trump elected in 2016, although polling data doesn’t make an ironclad case to support this theory.
(Photos by Rich Fury + Joe Raedle/Getty Images)