I think they're two different issues, and my writerly imagination fails me in thinking why he *woulnd't* speak up if he was outraged - what were they going to do? Rip him to pieces?

The people in question found his blog quick enough, and were a great deal more scathing than they probably would have been otherwise. (I've met Jane Yolen, and she's *nice*), so if it was cowardice, it backfired.