Starbucks pushes liberal agenda

Moments after picking up a venti vanilla latte from a St. Petersburg Starbucks, Sam Maston removed his cup's cardboard sleeve to inspect a message printed beneath. "America's national debt is now $7.5-trillion, and it's skyrocketing, even as America's population ages," the cup read. "There will never be a better time to start paying off this crippling debt than today." The quote, from environmentalist Denis Hayes, didn't faze the 29-year-old Maston. "I'm a pretty hardcore Democrat," said Maston. "I think they should put that stuff on there." Not everyone agrees. The Seattle coffee chain has raised some eyebrows over its "The Way I See It" campaign, which prints quotes from thinkers, authors, athletes and entertainers on the side of your morning machiatto. The goal, according to the company, is to foster philosophical debate in its 9,000-plus coffeehouses. The problem, critics say, is the company's list of overwhelmingly liberal contributors, including Al Franken, Melissa Etheridge, Quincy Jones, Chuck D. Of the 31 contributors, only one, National Review editor Jonah Goldberg, offers a conservative viewpoint. Some customers have complained to Starbucks' Web site, labeling the company a proponent of "the destruction of family values and virtues." "I want to enjoy your product without having Earth Day Network propaganda thrust at me," wrote Malachi Salcido. More here.