Howard Schultz says billionaires should be referred to as “people of means” or “people of wealth.” https://t.co/I3apM0h7aa
— Waleed Shahid 🪬 (@_waleedshahid) February 5, 2019
On January 27th, former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz told 60 minutes that his interest in politics goes beyond just encouraging employees to vote; he’s mulling over entering the 2020 presidential race as a “centrist Independent,” and then he doubled down on Twitter.
He’s been getting roasted since, with even Donald Trump taking shots. A heckler interrupted an interview with Schultz to yell, “Don’t help elect Trump, you billionaire, egotistical asshole. Go back to getting ratioed on Twitter. Go back to Davos with the other billionaire elite.” Anand Giridharadas, the author of Winners Take All: The Elite Charade of Changing the World, cogently stated Schultz is what happens “when the guardians of an unsustainable status quo masquerade as change agents.” Jim Messina, Obama’s 2012 campaign manager, said, “He should either run as a Democrat, or spend his time and money doing something that won’t ruin the world.” The Hill reported his favorability is currently a mere 4% with Democrats, Republicans, and Independents. Only Fox & Friends seems to be happy about it.
The roasting was turned up to high this week after Schultz said something particularly (unintentionally) funny on Monday night in an interview with New York Times reporter Andrew Ross Sorkin to promote Schultz’s new book, which we’re not going to say the title of because we suspect this whole presidential run is a stunt to promote said book.
In the interview (video above), Schultz suggested billionaires should be referred to as “people of means” or “people of wealth.” Wait, the guy who suggested that Starbucks baristas should discuss racial issues with customers might have a poor understanding of identity politics? Nooooo.
People have been cattily calling Schultz self-indulgent:
HOWARD SCHULTZ: I’m not doing this for me, I’m doing it for America.
AMERICA: sir, your logo is your name with your name written over it. pic.twitter.com/nCH3lMNbo4
— Jesse Lehrich (@JesseLehrich) January 28, 2019
Is running for president just "starting a podcast" for rich people?
— Orli Matlow (@HireMeImFunny) January 28, 2019
HOWARD SCHULTZ: Will I run for President? It is time for me listen to the American people
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE: Don’t run you espresso-brained oaf. You’ll win the election for Trump ya frothed milk-looking dingus
SCHULTZ: Terrific. I’m running
— Jason O. Gilbert (@gilbertjasono) January 28, 2019
Launching a futile presidential campaign is one of the textbook stages of billionaire insanity, please pray for Howard Schultz in this difficult time
— Ken Klippenstein (@kenklippenstein) January 28, 2019
Everyone: Boy Shultz couldn't possibly be any more unlikeable
Shultz: HOLD MY CHALICE FILLED WITH CASH AND JEWELS
— Telepathy Test Human #3 (@cuneform) February 5, 2019
Others gave suggestions for his campaign:
Can’t believe Howard Schultz isn’t winning over more voters with his relatable platform of “Let me, Howard Schultz, keep all my money.”
— Jess Dweck (@TheDweck) February 5, 2019
Nice to see Howard Schultz finally talk about his policy proposals https://t.co/87wFpFtn35
— Mike Drucker (@MikeDrucker) February 3, 2019
BREAKING: Howard Schultz releases 2020 campaign logo pic.twitter.com/Qc1SFpxzMG
— Doug Gordon (@dgordon52) January 28, 2019
Most of all, though, people were having fun with his faux identity politics of treating the word “billionaires” like a slur:
people of means
silver spoon havers
fiscally tinged
wealth-charged
the butler-adjacent https://t.co/XIfZYdw3KC— Alexandra Petri (@petridishes) February 5, 2019
somebody: billionaire-
howard schultz: pic.twitter.com/QKtTE0eCJo
— jack (@PANSEXUALIZING) February 5, 2019
https://twitter.com/HelloCullen/status/1092596329308655616
https://twitter.com/zei_nabq/status/1092905272203493378
https://twitter.com/jpbrammer/status/1092604672513372162
https://twitter.com/paulsef/status/1092593380905963520
this is centrist identity politics https://t.co/Wt386QzTFc
— Brandy Jensen (@BrandyLJensen) February 5, 2019
A BILLIONAIRE IS GOING TO USE THE WORD "WEALTHPHOBIC" ON TV WITHIN THIS CALENDAR YEAR
— NOT A WOLF (@SICKOFWOLVES) February 5, 2019
https://twitter.com/daniecal/status/1092794278303023104
Oh now I get the whole calling a small a tall thing https://t.co/nij9vO9oUQ
— Ariana Lenarsky (@aardvarsk) February 5, 2019
egg dog says billionaires should be referred to as "Sucky Dollarmans', or "Bitch Mayonaisse" https://t.co/f7dTKhI7Wo
— on bluesky at explod.es (@egg_dog) February 5, 2019
"It takes a villa!" – Howard Shultz's campaign slogan https://t.co/M88A8No0jm
— Matt Oswalt (@MattOswaltVA) February 5, 2019
https://twitter.com/JillFilipovic/status/1092773003253952513
I fully agree calling people like Howard Schultz "billionaires" is poor phrasing. The proper term is "oligarch"
— Kate Aronoff (@KateAronoff) February 5, 2019
Ok, cool. Our turn.
It’s not a marginal tax, it’s “wealthshare.” https://t.co/1zZbJHaRPW
— A.R. Moxon (juliusgoat.bsky.social) (@JuliusGoat) February 5, 2019
smfh. This is like livestreaming the French Revolution. https://t.co/MD6lbBywMv
— Seth Bernard (@bernard_prof) February 5, 2019
Schultz making his entire platform be about how people are too mean to billionaires is honestly one of the most beautiful and pure things I have seen in a very long time https://t.co/3GqseXhzjX
— Ashley Feinberg (ashleyfeinberg.bsky.social) (@ashleyfeinberg) February 5, 2019
Local Maniac Just, Fuckin', Goes For It https://t.co/gpLIsQgK7D
— Cody Johnston (@drmistercody) February 5, 2019
Laughing so hard at Howard Schultz for thinking he can rebrand billionaires as "people of means" when he can't even get us to call medium drinks "grande."
— Adam Best (@adamcbest) February 5, 2019
We have to hand it to him. Howard Schultz really did bring everyone together… to reply to his presidential bid with a resounding “No thanks, coffee dude.”
https://twitter.com/PrettyBadLefty/status/1092130609596649472
#MyFellowGritizens #Election2020 #1u pic.twitter.com/4QhQKSQzoC
— Fellow Worker Gritty, Wearing Ⓐ Mask (@FellowGritty) February 3, 2019
I’m proud to be an American, where at least I know everyone thinks Howard Schultz should sit the fuck down https://t.co/KwSkJZHfS6
— Lauren Duca (@laurenduca) February 3, 2019
https://twitter.com/MildlyIrritate1/status/1089930055231389696