The internet can be so mean.
With his announcement Friday that he wont be running for president in 2020 after all, former Starbucks CEO and big-time billionaire Howard Schultz has once again become the punching bag for a large swath of online pundits. From Reddit to Facebook to Twitter, critics of Schultz are gathering for a large chorus of “Dont Let the Door Hit You on the Way Out.”
Schultz should have seen it coming. Way back in 2018 when he resigned from Starbucks, dropping hints that he might run for office, one Reddit user served up this description:
“Hes a random billionaire who thinks that his Starbucks PR team qualifies him to run for president. He has no real governmental qualifications, He has no political base to stand on, an utter lack of name recognition, and the dude is literally a special interest. How many more times do Americans need to be punished for voting for random rich guys before they realize that elites dont care about them. Schultz is a bad choice, full stop.”
Fast-forward a little over a year and Schultz again finds himself pelted with digital tomatoes.
.@HowardSchultz finally ended his absurd run as a Presidential spoiler.
Let this be a warning to any other billionaire oligarchs whose egos crave the presidency: Monopoly Man will be there, ready to embarrass you. https://t.co/dHTTC4shrx
— Ian Madrigal – The Monopoly Man (@iansmadrig) September 6, 2019
The poor guy cant catch a break. Hes bashed for leaving the C-suite and trying to make the world a better place. Hes attacked by Democrats who see his race as an independent to be spoiler alert of Ralph-Nader-and-his-Green-Party proportions. And now that hes pulling out, saying hed hate to have his independent candidacy help President Donald Trump get re-elected, Schultz is being kicked when hes down.
“My belief in the need to reform our two-party system has not wavered, but I have concluded that an independent campaign for the White House is not how I can best serve our country at this time,” he said Friday in a letter posted on his website.
Schultzs decision to throw in the White House towel will assure many Democrats a wonderful weekend as they wash down their fears of a third-party candidate with beer and BBQ. In his letter, Schultz addressed their concerns, writing that “not enough people today are willing to consider backing an independent candidate because they fear doing so might lead to re-electing a uniquely dangerous incumbent president.”
Some of his fans might see his move as a noble one. The problem is, those fans arent scrambling all over the social-media slag heap firing salvos like this one on Reddit: “Guess he was the last to find out he wasnt running anymore. His chances in the primaries were foamed up and scooped away months ago.”
Or these on Twitter:
Fun Fact: Howard Schultz's presidential bid was still shorter than the amount of time it takes to get a latte in the morning at a Starbucks in Manhattan.
— Tued Schtreckeen (@NeToChiGuy) September 6, 2019
Nobody:
Howard Schultz: Despite unpopular demand, I am going to drop out of the Presidential race.
— Tricia Romano (@tromano) September 6, 2019
Raise your hand if you thought Howard Schultz had dropped out months ago.
— Kevin Moore (@kevinwmoore) September 6, 2019
Hey, Howard Schultz, please take Steyer with you! (I thought they were the same dude until today)
— David DAg – Please stan elsewhere (@jackjonesbabe) September 6, 2019
.@HowardSchultz Thank you. You were a distraction for the Read More – Source
