The Kansas City Chiefs’ owner said Wednesday he has no problem with kicker Harrison Butker forming a political action committee urging Christians to vote for what the Pack calls “traditional values.”
Butker announced the upright pack in a series of social media posts over the weekend.
“One of the things I talk about with our players every year in training camp is to use their platform to make a difference,” Chiefs president Clark Hunt said. “We have players on both sides of the political spectrum, both sides of any controversial issue you want to raise. We want our players to use their platforms to bring about change. I’m not worried about doing that at all.”
Butker is a mainstay on the Upright Pack website, along with Missouri Republican Sen. Josh Hawley, the kicker in his re-election bid against Democrat Lucas Kunce.
“Every day we see our values under attack – from our schools, the media, and even our government. But we have the power to fight back and the things that have made this country great. There is an opportunity to restore traditional values,” Pack says on its website. “We are working to mobilize Christians across this country to ensure these values are upheld at the voting booth.”
Butker’s first “very deliberate” foray into politics came in May, when he delivered a controversial commencement address at Benedictine College, a private Catholic liberal arts school in Atchison, Kansas. . The three-time Super Bowl champion said most women who earn their degrees are probably more excited about getting married and having children than they are about jobs, and that some Catholic leaders are “inflicting dangerous gender ideology on America’s youth.” “We are imposing this on them,” he said. .
Butker also attacked Joe Biden’s positions on Pride Month and abortion.
The NFL distanced itself from Butker’s comments, later issuing the following statement: “His views are not those of the NFL as an organization. The NFL is steadfast in its commitment to inclusivity, which makes our league even stronger.”
During preseason training camp, Butker said he was glad he was able to voice his opinion. “I just decided, ‘You know what? I have something that I truly believe will make this world a better place, and that’s what I’m going to preach,” Butker said. “If people don’t agree, they won’t agree. But I’m going to keep saying what I believe to be true and loving everyone along the way.”
The Hunt family, through Unity Hunt, the company that manages the Lamar Hunt family’s assets, has supported groups urging Missouri voters to reject a ballot measure that would overturn the state’s near-total abortion ban. The Chiefs confirmed to the Kansas City Star that the $300,000 donation was transferred through Unity Hunt’s account by Lamar Hunt Jr., Clark Hunt’s half-brother. declined to comment.
Meanwhile, Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes said last month that Donald Trump and Kamala Harris have repeatedly referred to his wife, Brittany, as a supporter of their campaigns, despite the fact that the November election He said he would not support him.
“I don’t want my position or position to be used to support any candidate,” Mahomes said. “My role is to inform people to register to vote. It’s to tell people to do their own research and then make the decision that’s best for them and their families.”
The comments came less than a day after Taylor Swift, who is friends with the Chiefs’ Travis Kelce and is friends with the Mahomes family, endorsed Harris as a presidential candidate. President Trump told Fox News: “If you want the truth, I much prefer Mrs. Mahomes. She’s a big Trump fan. I like Brittany. I think Brittany is great.”
Asked Wednesday about President Trump’s reference to his wife, Patrick Mahomes said, “At the end of the day, it’s about me and my family and how we treat other people.” said.
“You see Brittany doing a lot in the community, and I do a lot of work in the community to help people grow and give people the opportunity to have their voices heard. ” he said. “In the age of politics, people try to take advantage of things here and there, but I can’t let that affect the way I do my job every day. I’m trying to live it.”
