Starbucks Fiscal Cliff Campaign Set to Expand Nationwide

But some wonder if the company's 'Come Together' gimmick isn't a bit creepy

Come together. Right now. Over a white chocolate mocha.

Starbucks has been encouraging its DC area staff in recent days to scribble the words "Come Together" on each cup o' joe sold, in an effort to encourage lawmakers to put partisanship aside and resolve the so-called fiscal cliff. The Daily Beast reports that despite the fact that many a barista is apparently failing to do as requested by company CEO Howard Schultz, the "Come Together" campaign will be spreading to Starbucks stores nationwide in the remaining days/hours of negotiations on Capitol Hill.

"We have an opportunity, a responsibility," writes Schultz, "to use our company's scale for good by sending a message to our elected officials to come together and reach common ground on this important issue."

Though seemingly harmless rhetoric, the Daily Caller's Mickey Kaus thinks it all smacks of a cult.

"Isn't there something creepy about Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz?" he asks. "What if he were, say, the CEO of Chick-fil-A and he 'asked' his 'partners' [Starbucks' preferred term for 'workers'] to write 'Preserve the Family' on the outside of cups?"

Via the Daily Beast and the Daily Caller.

Do you support Starbucks' "Come Together" campaign?

[twinertia]

It's the equivalent of prayer (nothing).

[Rocker]

Ah yes, Twin. But it is no different than today's manufacturing environment with their buzzwords and phrases. And besides that..... I'm a Beatles fan. :-)

[CATTLEPROD]

I dont like charcoal coffee. Overpriced bitterness that needs flavorings to hide the fact it's been in the pot all day. Same logic at wal-mart and thier "aged beef". That stuff just sat on the truck too long, they didn't know what to do so they called it aged beef and raised the price a little.

[marine1]

Overpriced with bitterness, now i get the reality between them and goverment . niether one is worth the price they want us to pay.

[texas_cutie75]

Hhhmmm, I agree with you on the overpriced and less than deliciousness that comes from Starbucks. Your kidding about the aged beef, right? I get all my meat at a meat market where they makes the cuts right in front of you...definitely worth a few more pennies, in my ever so humble opinion.:-)

[woodtick57]

Overpriced bitterness...the coffee or your post?

[stepped_in_it]

@woodtick57 HMMM, any "aged beef" on this statement.....LOL

[woodtick57]

@stepped_in_it

It is an 'aged beef' that starbucks coffee is overpriced. most people I know who say that have no idea what they charge for a cup of joe. They're prices are similar to a superamerica and it actually tastes like coffee.

[bobrob]

This will have no effect on those lawmakers who we hired to do the peoples business, because
some of 'em simply do not give a damn about the people they were hired to protect. If they
allow us to go over the 'fiscal cliff', we go into recession. If we slash spending like the
repubs want to do, we go into a deep recession. Yes, spending must be gotten under control
and decreased in stages-- do it all at once and we are toast.

[marine1]

I think we are toast any way we look at it and the cooks couldn't care less. We are a society of dough boys and they will burn the next batch too if it serves their purpose.

[jessejaymes]

@marine1 What I don't get is why people act like something is going to be "saved"? This nation is purposely being taken into third world status of the rich and the poor. Follow the money, always follow the money.

[marine1]

@jessejaymes This is the story of our lives. We will always follow the money but by design, it will be kept out of reach for the most of us..

[1adam2]

we the people are the government, not your elected most popular village idiots. we have no one to blame, but ourselves, for letting our representatives get so totally out of hand. the federal government was not designed, to do everything for everybody. and should not even attempt to do, what we the people should individually do for ourselves.

[stepped_in_it]

Next promotion......Subway employees write "Yellow Submarine" on all their cups. The US navy responds that they prefer fuchsia!

[texas_cutie75]

What about Marble Slab? What do you think thy would do?

[stepped_in_it]

@texas_cutie75 HMM, rename Neapolitan ice cream to Redemotarian in honor of the King statement "Why can't we all just get along"?

[texas_cutie75]

@stepped_in_it Awesome!! Nothing better than starting the day with a good belly laugh!:-)

[dances-weebles]

and right after that mcdonald's will write 'old mcdonald had a farm' on theirs.

[stepped_in_it]

@dances-weebles Can't they just shorten it to "E I E I O". Think of the savings on the "budget"....bahaha

[Thunderchicken]

It's free advertising for Starbucks.

[stepped_in_it]

Well, semi free. They do pay minimum wage to their "workers".....lol

[Thunderchicken]

@stepped_in_it

LOL I've seen this story twice on this site and on other news feeds. I don't understand why either. To me it's just more irrelevant noise.(It also my be that I don't like over priced, over roasted coffee that's brewed at too high of a temperature.)

[woodtick57]

@stepped_in_it

I thought Starbucks gave health bennies to all it's employess? Sounds like more than minimum wage to me...

[jessejaymes]

That's exactly what it is. I wrote "Save the Hookers" on my sneakers this morning. Think Politix will run with that one?

[stepped_in_it]

@woodtick57 HMM, money versus benefits? Can't pay rent/food with benefits (unless I live/eat in a hospital, which I hear the food is bad and they won't let you sleep in).

[Dan_Tien]

The idea to hand write the words is probably to avoid the accusations of copyright infringement Starbucks would get if they had the cups printed with the words. Last I heard, Michael Jackson owned the rights to all the Beatles' songs, and his estate could probably use the money. If they really just wanted to send a message to Congress about the fiscal cliff impasse, it could have been done with a straightforward message that didn't evoke a well known song.

[woodtick57]

Can you copyright such a common phrase as come together?

[stepped_in_it]

Beatles did::-)
http://www.lyricsfreak.com/b/beatles/come+tog...

[RedFloppyShoes]

But it is meaningless. Their big picture, if the taxes go up, less if their coffee will be sold.

[jessejaymes]

Look at the handwriting on the cup pictured. If someone didn't know already what it said do you think people would know?

[Blessed]

Come together...RIGHT NOW! Wonder if Chic-fil-a would give me the job of writing "Preserve The Family" on every cup of lemonade sold. Better yet, I can think of another slogan I'd like to write.

[dances-weebles]

personally, i think that the phrase 'come together' would have better served as a slogan for the maverick ranch in nevada, than starbutts.

[Politicskid]

Personally, I think that we shouldn't come together if Obama won't budge on spending cuts and continues to rob younger people blind.

[FollowTheMoney]

It's a nice goofy gesture. The problem is, they are already together on this. They're in it neck deep, right where they want to be. I'm not fooled for a second.

[mudpike]

So who really cares what Starbucks thinks ? Like the nonsense about what some celebrity's opinions are or what they wore to some Award. How does that affect the working class taxpayer in America ? Another example of the dumbing down of America. What they say or believe carries no more merit than our opinions. Get out of the rut & think for yourself !

[LGRepublican]

Note to Starbucks....

Shut up and make my damn coffee......
I could care less about your view on politics, I cams in for coffee....

[ConserveUSA]

WOO-HOO!

[kathyparsell]

Great idea Schultz look at all that free advertising.

[ConserveUSA]

At 11am at the discussion, give em Real Irish Coffee! That will bring the room togethetgetrgetterttertteetget ttter :)

[VeryLameduck]

It is good press.

[1adam2]

a nice gesture, but never the less. is little more than, a wishful sentimental journey. but is sometimes better, to do nothing. than for the government, to do everything so totally wrong for so long...