So far, so good — and nothing you would not expect a conservative Catholic to say to students at a generally conservative Catholic school. But that isn't what got Butker into trouble. As far as I know, not even his sharp criticism of the priesthood (with a sly Taylor Swift reference) elicited any rebukes or admonishment.
It was his emotional encomium to marriage and stay-at-home motherhood that caused such an uproar and even led to his doxxing on X/Twitter by a Kansas City municipal employee. (The state attorney general's office is investigating.)
"I’m on the stage today and able to be the man I am because I have a wife who leans into her vocation," Butker said. "I’m beyond blessed with the many talents God has given me, but it cannot be overstated that all of my success is made possible because a girl I met in band class back in middle school would convert to the faith, become my wife, and embrace one of the most important titles of all: homemaker."
I've heard from people in the know that the faculty and administrators on stage were "uncomfortable" with Butker's message. But the graduates clearly loved it, often interrupting him with applause and giving him a standing ovation at the end of the 20-minute address.
Blaze Media columnist Delano Squires says the negative response to Butker's perfectly traditional view of marriage and family shines a fresh light on America's deepening cultural rot.
"If you want to read stories about women destroying their families in the name of self-love, the Atlantic has got you," Squires wrote Friday. "If you want glowing profiles of women in polyamorous relationships, New York magazine will supply them. If you want to learn that sex work is no different from social work, Teen Vogue will be glad to inform you. If you want to hear how abortion empowers women, you can listen to any Democrat running for office."
"But the moment a professional athlete expresses his love for his wife and lauds her devotion to her husband and children, pundits and influencers come out to scold him and conservatives about our 'hatred' of women. Even the NFL condemned his remarks."
"Fearless" host Jason Whitlock also lauded Butker for his courage while calling out the cowardice of his critics — in particular, activist Shannon Watts, founder of the anti-gun Moms Demand Action.
Watts attacked Butker on X for railing against abortion, IVF, surrogacy, euthanasia, gays, and "liberated women" but failing to mention “the gun violence that killed a fan at the Super Bowl parade. Gun extremism is part of the religion.”
When Whitlock pointed out her hypocrisy, she responded to him with "distortions and lies."
"Watts is scared," he wrote. "She’s afraid of gangs, and she’s afraid of Black Lives Matter, woke cancel culture. Lawmakers did not give the shooters access to guns. Other criminals did that. A 23-year-old, a 20-year-old, an 18-year-old, and a 15-year-old were charged with firing weapons at the Chiefs Super Bowl parade. Lyndell Mays, 23, Terry Young, 20, and Dominic Miller, 18, were charged with second-degree murder. The unnamed 15-year-old was charged with unlawful use of a weapon and armed criminal action."
In Shannon Watts' world, Whitlock contends, "guns are more harmful than broken families." Truth.
While you're at it:
Charlie Kirk, the firebrand founder of Turning Point USA, made his debut on TheBlaze Opinion page Thursday with his own take on the Butker brouhaha.
"Butker told the truth to women, rather than repeating the same lies that are everywhere in a society, where women are increasingly medicated and increasingly miserable," Kirk argued. "For that, he’s being treated like a pariah. Outlets like Rolling Stone have spread the deranged lie that Butker’s speech was somehow an anti-Semitic screed. This is baseless, but it shows how seriously they want to hurt him."
By all means, read the whole thing. It packs a punch.
