Kansas City Chiefs owner backs kicker Harrison Butker’s new PAC that supports ‘traditional values’

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The owner of the Kansas City Chiefs said Wednesday he has no problem with kicker Harrison Butker form a political action committee designed to encourage Christians to vote for what the PAC describes as “traditional values.”

Butker announced his UPRIGHT PAC last weekend, during the Chiefs’ bye, in a series of social media posts.

“One of the things I talk to the players about every year in training camp is using 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 bring up. It doesn’t bother me at all when our players use their platform to make a difference.”

Butker is front and center on the UPRIGHT PAC website along with Missouri Republican Sen. Josh Hawley, who won the kicker’s endorsement before the general election against Democrat Lucas Kunce.

“We are seeing our values ​​attacked every day. In our schools, in the media and even from our own government. But we have the opportunity to fight back and recover the traditional values ​​that have made this country great,” says the PAC on its website. “We are working to mobilize the Christians of this country to ensure that we protect these values ​​at the ballot box.

Butker first did what he called a “very intentional” raid. in politics in May, when he delivered a polarizing opening address at Benedictine College, a private Catholic liberal arts school in Atchison, Kansas. The three-time Super Bowl champion said, among other things, that most of the women receiving degrees were probably more excited to get married and have children, and that some Catholic leaders were “pushing dangerous gender ideologies to the young people of “America”.

Butker also attacked Month of pridean important moment for the LGBTQ+ community and President Joe Biden’s stance on abortion.

The NFL distanced itself from Butker’s comments, issuing a statement afterward that said, “His views are not those of the NFL as an organization. The NFL is steadfast in our commitment to inclusion, which only make our league stronger.”

“I just decided, ‘You know what? There are things that I believe with all my heart that I believe will make this world a better place,’ and I’m going to preach that,” Butker said, when asked about the address during training camp. “If people I don’t agree, I don’t agree, but I will continue to say what I believe to be true and love everyone along the way.”

The Hunt family has backed a group urging Missouri voters to reject a ballot measure that would overturn the state’s near-total abortion ban through Unity Hunt, the company that oversees the assets of the Lamar Hunt family. The Chiefs have declined to comment on the $300,000 donation other than to confirm to The Kansas City Star that the money was sent by Clark Hunt’s half-brother, Lamar Hunt Jr., through his account to Unity Hunt.

Meanwhile, Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes said as much last month I would not support Donald Trump or Kamala Harris in the November election, although the former president repeatedly referred to his wife, Brittany, as a supporter of his campaign.

“I don’t want my site and my platform to be used to endorse a candidate,” Mahomes said. “My job is to inform people to register to vote. It’s to inform people to do their own research and then make the best decision for themselves and their family.”

These comments came less than a day after Taylor Swift, who is dating Travis Kelce of the Chiefs and has befriended the Mahomes family, endorsed Harris for the presidency. This prompted Trump to tell Fox News, “I actually like Mrs. Mahomes a lot more, if you want to know the truth. She’s a big Trump fan. I like Brittany. I think Brittany’s great.”

Patrick Mahomes was asked Wednesday about Trump’s references to his wife and said “at the end of the day, it’s about me and my family and how we treat other people.”

“I think you see that Brittany does a lot in the community. I do a lot in the community to help educate people and give them an opportunity to use their voice,” she said. “In political times, people will use things here and there, but I can’t let that affect how I go about my business every day of my life and try to live it as best I can.”

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