Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz, in explaining why he seeks to run as an independent candidate in 2020, slammed the Democrat Party for pretending they can provide everything to everybody for ‘free.’
Schultz has been getting hardcore criticism from the left for considering an independent run, the belief being that he would siphon off resistance votes and help President Trump win re-election.
Former Obama speechwriter Jon Favreau, for example, criticized Schultz for using his billionaire privilege to avoid running on the Democrat ticket.
“If he thinks he has a winning message, why can’t he run in the Democratic primary?” Favreau asked. “Why does he get to skip that contest?”
In an interview with the ladies of “The View,” Schultz responded to the criticism and slammed the Democrat Party for having little more than a platform of simply promising “free” things to people, an idea he says is unsustainable.
Schultz said he couldn’t run in the Democrat Party because it would be “disingenuous” to promise things that aren’t real and have no chance of working out budgetarily.
“In order to run as a Democrat today, you have to fall in line with free Medicare for everybody—free—free college for everybody, a free job for everybody,”@HowardSchultz tells us why he would run as an Independent in 2020. “We can’t afford to do it free” https://t.co/PCMHBZ9q65 pic.twitter.com/dOAYaeVAVp
— The View (@TheView) January 29, 2019
His comments are in line with others he’s made regarding some of the more radical members of the Democrat Party.
“I respect the Democratic Party. I no longer feel affiliated because I don’t know their views represent the majority of Americans,” Schultz said in a clear shot at socialist Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. “I don’t think we want a 70 percent income tax in America.”
Schultz Offered Free College Tuition For Starbucks Employees
To be clear, Schultz, who was being called out for hypocrisy by Whoopi Goldberg in that clip, said it is not something that can be afforded by a federal government already sitting on $21 trillion of debt.
A private business owner, however, can provide such things if they are successful enough.
In 2015, Starbucks offered payment of a two-year online degree with Arizona State University for employees who worked at least 20 hours per week.
At a cost of $250 million, Schultz called the policy a demonstration of the “conscience of the company” and its ability “to try to do everything we can to help our people get access to college.”
He did that with his own money. Taking taxpayer money and using it to provide free college tuition to others is a whole different ballgame.
Democrats Are Terrified of a Schultz Campaign
Since he announced possible intentions to run for president in 2020, Schultz has received nothing but grief from his friends on the left. That was evident once again when the far-left wing of “The View” co-hosts attacked him for daring to run as an independent.
“I think it’s clear that the country we are living in needs significant change, not only change because of this president, but change because of the toxicity and the lack of compromise of both parties,” Schultz said.
“The main thing that scares me,” Behar pressed, “is that your entry into the race will guarantee Trump another four years and we cannot have that.”
On Monday, he was heckled by a protester at a Barnes & Noble book event shouting, “Don’t help elect Trump! You egotistical billionaire a**hole!”
President Trump, sensing the fear amongst some Democrats, has tried goading Schultz into committing to his independent run.
Howard Schultz doesn’t have the “guts” to run for President! 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!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 28, 2019
At least Schultz has the guts to call out the Democrat Party as being the simplistic party of free handouts for everyone. Running as an independent will no doubt raise the profile of the resistance as being out of touch and unrealistic in their views of how to govern in a modern world.
