The liberal media complex ganged up on Harrison Butker on Thursday. Butker, the Kansas City Chiefs’ kicker, gave a commencement address at Benedictine College that put emphasis on family values. These values included the importance of parenting, remarks which major news networks such as NBC’s Today and ABC’s Good Morning America deemed as ‘too far’.
Hoda Kotb, co-host of Today, mocked Butker’s speech after he speculated that many of the female graduates were more excited about marriage and parenting than their budding careers. She painted an outraged picture, as if Butker had personally assaulted the modern woman. Co-host Savannah Guthrie later spoke of mounting resentment towards Butker, the presenter apparently still reeling from Butker’s endorsement of family values. Correspondent Kaylee Hartung judged his words to be shocking.
Early in her report, Hartung posited that Butker’s support for religious and family values were somehow beyond the pale of decent discourse. She took special issue with Butker’s defense of the sanctity of parenthood. Throughout his speech, Butker touched on everything from family life to his criticisms of Pride Month and in-vitro fertilization.
InButker’s words: “Some of you may go on to lead successful careers in the world, but I would venture to guess the majority of you are most excited about your marriage and the children you will bring.” He further praised his wife’s dedication to her family and their faith.
Though his words caused a stir, notably by criticising Pride Month and encouraging male students to uphold their masculinity, Butker wasn’t without his supporters. After all, he addressed the audience from his personal conviction, not as an official representative of the NFL.
Ironically, co-host Craig Melvin fanned the flames of public outrage, suggesting that people should check out a supposed takedown of Butker’s speech by liberal journalist Maria Shriver. This, despite Melvin himself having recently published a book which celebrates parenting.
Similarly, ABC’s Good Morning America co-host Robin Roberts seemed eager to pile onto Butker, citing his remarks on societal issues and women’s roles. Butker’s comments were further lambasted as antiquated by Kate Ellis, CEO of GLAAD, a far-left organisation. Still, after the dust settled, it’s worth noting that Butker received a congratulatory standing ovation from many of the graduates and attendees.
Roberts exclaimed that commencement addresses should focus on the graduates, not represent personal views; an ironic statement, given her tendency to make commencement speeches about her own experiences. On that day, she fully endorsed Jennifer Coolidge narrating her career journey at the Washington State University commencement, making her original comment on Butker’s commencement address seem hypocritical.
The media’s double standards shine bright. Family life and parental roles remain sacred and paramount, no matter what the liberal agenda dictates. It never seemed outlandish to prioritize family over career, but today it appears to be— apparently, Butker’s comments “ignited a firestorm.” With the liberal media already baying for his blood, the real question is how far we have strayed from the traditional family values that once kept our society together.
