My restraint deserves a gold star!

I have been very intentional about avoiding political observations on the blog.  When my brain is less fuzzy I will post why I am doing that later in the week.

It's been killing me because there are so many things about the process that are intriguing this year.  I'd  love to focus on the communication side alone.  Forget the candidate, party or issue.  Anyone who studies and enjoys communication could compose a meaningful post a day on that topic alone.

I'm going to try this one, and I think the topic is safe.  Every year we hear about a new voter label.  We had the soccer mom and the NASCAR dad.   Have you heard this one this year?  We now have the Starbucks voter vs. the Dunkin' Donuts voter.

I think we can steer clear of any political land mines here.  Define these two voters for me.

Comments

[lor]

Starbucks voters - educated, affluent, people who don't think twice about dropping 5 bucks on a cup of coffee and have the time to hang out in the shop while they drink it

Dunkin' Doughnuts voters - working/middle class, no nonsense, want their coffee strong and ready to go, not alot of ambience to these shops as their customers use the drive-through on their way to work

[Rachel B]

OOOOooooo. I don't know how safe this topic is, but given the Good Morning America taste test a couple of weeks ago, you may need to add the McDonald's voter as well. I am not a coffee drinker, but I am told its good and cheap as well!
IN MY OPINION...
The Starbucks voter likes convenience and doesn't mind overspending.
The Dunkin Donuts voter is a bit more shrewd less flashy and likes sweetness. (Starbuck's cocoa it too bitter for me.)
The McDonalds voter is the most spending concious and is not out to impress anyone. (Free coffee on Mondays.)

[Dennis]

Interesting start. So far, so civil. I'd love someone to do a little project today. What is the cost of a cup of coffee at each place? I am not talking about a foofoo drink. Just plain old coffee. I think I pay $1.90 including egregious taxation for a Grande (should be equivalent of large DD) coffee at Starbucks.

The drive through vs. walk in part intrigues me and is true.

[Eva]

This doesn't really serve to define anyone, but it provides a sweet spin on the niceness factor of Starbucks customers.

http://www.pantagraph.com/articles/2006/12/13/news/doc457f321ddf68f848510458.txt

[Christine Henry]

Hey Dennis,

I found your Starbuck coffee drinkers. Here is the link! Too funny!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YE5xmFAcW-U

[Severson-san]

Well, it seems to me that Starbucks voters probably lean more left than right,
more likely than the Dunkin' Donuts drinker to be single,
more likely to be in their teens - thirties,
probably a little more condescending than DD drinkers,
probably more educated though not as common sense or down-to-earth as the DD drinker.

Of course, these opinions are based on little more than gut feeling and stereotypes.

Though one must admit that DD is trying to reach out to the younger and hipper coffee drinker by employing the band They Might Be Giants to record music for their commercials for the last year or so. Not bad. They have my attention. If only I was willing to pay for their product.

Christine, that was a funny video. Quite the transformation. I like the mournful Klezmer music and the sudden switch to "Golden Brown".

[Rachel B]

Particle man, Particle man, doing the things a particle can...
I had no idea it was They Might Be Giants! They used that song (not the DD commercial one) in my favorite episode of Tiny Toon Adventures!!!

[Rachel B]

Kelly,
I went to your link.
Who yawned while watching? I admit. I did twice!

[Dennis]

Interestingly, it seems to me that both groups, SB and DD, tend to veer more liberal and more democrat. (Please, this is not a bash...don't take it that way).

SB are highbrow, white collar liberal and DD tend to be the blue collar, union liberal. I guess that would mean SB leans Obama and DD does Hillary or Edwards?

[lor]

So, conservatives order Kona online? :)

[Katie]

Don't think this fits any political stereotype, but for me, I tend to get more SB giftcards than DD. However, I haven't seen SB send any coupons in the mail like DD (a free cup of coffee!). So how do I decide where to get my coffee, well, I see if I have any balance on my SB card. I enjoy both coffees about the same and the fact that both have a drivethru in Minooka I am loving it!! (This only applies to a regular cup of coffee. If I want something "special" it is SB all the way!)

[Dennis]

Here's my theory, actually 2. Let's not forget that the labels are a media creation, so...

1. There is no real conservative in the race this year and the Republican race is so irrelevant that they are not even labeling them this year. They are labeling the race that they think matters.

2. Romney being a Mormon, is not permitted to drink coffee, so the coffee analogy does not hold water this year.

I am a Starbucks guy, true. That has less to do with my politics than loving the smell and taste of good coffee.

I am also into the experience. When it comes to coffee, the drive up is a violation of all that is right and good (though admittedly at times it is convenient and necessary). When I walk into Starbucks I smell coffee...strong, dark coffee. When I walk into Dunkin Donuts I smell sugar.

Dennis the high brow liberal...hmmmmm.

[Cheryl]

Rachel B. - I totally yawned twice while watching that clip - too funny!

[Christine Henry]

I yawned about three to four times!