Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker's commencement speech has ignited a national conversation about the importance of marriage, family, and faith. The debate intensified after a new Pew Research Center survey revealed a stark divide between Trump and Biden supporters' views on these issues.
The Kansas City Chiefs' Harrison Butker took the stage at his alma mater, the University of Georgia, on May 13, delivering a commencement speech that sparked a national debate on family values and the role of faith. Butker's address, which emphasized the importance of marriage and having children, drew praise from some but also sparked backlash from those who deemed it outdated and intolerant.
The debate gained further momentum after the release of the Pew Research Center's "Cultural Issues and the 2024 Election" report. The survey of 8,709 adults found a significant disparity between Trump and Biden supporters' views on marriage, family, and the declining birth rate.
According to the survey, 59% of Trump supporters believe society is better off if people prioritize marriage and having children, compared to just 19% of Biden supporters. Trump supporters were also more likely to view the nation's declining birth rate as a bad thing for society (47%) than Biden voters (23%).
Timothy Head, Executive Director of the Faith and Freedom Coalition, argues that the survey's findings reflect a broader erosion of the family unit among left-leaning individuals. He attributes this to a focus on career and political activism among younger voters, as well as a reliance on government programs for support.
"More liberal voters rely on government for assistance over looking to family," Head said. "Their first reflex or response is to immediately look to a government program to help them in a financial crisis, a health crisis, a relationship crisis, etc."
However, critics of Head's view point to the Pew survey's findings on other cultural issues, such as abortion and healthcare. Biden supporters were more likely to express support for abortion rights (Biden +12) and government involvement in healthcare (Biden +7).
The Pew survey also found that while a majority of both Trump and Biden supporters believe in God (84% and 73%, respectively), Trump supporters were more likely to identify as Evangelical (35% versus 15% for Biden supporters).
The debate over family values and faith has become a central issue in the early stages of the 2024 presidential election. Fox News' first Power Rankings Issues Tracker for the 2024 election shows Trump leading Biden on immigration (Trump +18), the economy (Trump +15), foreign policy (Trump +7), and crime/guns (Trump +7).
Biden, on the other hand, has an edge on abortion (Biden +12), preserving democracy and election integrity (Biden +7), and health care (Biden +7).
The debate over family values and faith is likely to continue as the election approaches, with both candidates seeking to appeal to voters' beliefs and moral values.
