Despite pledge, political donations flow from Starbucks

AP via MassLive.com ^

[matt04]

If Starbucks chief Howard Schultz wants voters to withhold campaign cash from federal politicians, he may need to start with trying to halt the flow of donations coming from the people who work for him.

Starbucks leadership, employees and the company's lobbying firm have continued to contribute thousands of dollars to federal officeholders despite Schultz's urging, according to campaign records reviewed by The Associated Press. He had invited Americans to join him in withholding campaign contributions until politicians could reach a bipartisan deal to stabilize the nation's fiscal situation — an appeal that Fortune magazine cited in naming Schultz its "Businessperson of the Year" last week.

There's no evidence the "withhold" movement has had any impact on the flow of money in politics, as third-quarter donations to congressional campaigns were actually higher than during the last election cycle. In just the six weeks after the coffee guru announced his pledge with the support of dozens of other business executives, the donations continued among many of those companies, including AOL, Juniper Networks and NASDAQ.

Walter Robb, the co-CEO of Whole Foods and a top supporter of the movement, gave an in-kind donation to a congressional campaign in September after taking Schultz's vow. He said through a spokeswoman that he had committed to providing food and beverage to Jared Huffman, a candidate in California's 2nd Congressional District, earlier in the summer and that he decided to stick with it even though it had been delayed until after the Schultz pledge.

The lobbying firm that handles much of Starbucks' work in the nation's capital, K&L Gates, has continued to donate through its political action committee to current and prospective members of Congress — some $40,000 from the start of the pledge through the end of September.

[South40]

he may need to start with trying to halt the flow of donations coming from the people who work for him.

I am self-employed. But if I had an employer who tried to tell me who I could contribute money to I would most certainly look for another job.

[Brilliant]

You ever notice that the guys who are the biggest problem are the guys who point the finger?

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks matt04.