I def. take a critical eye to authors that have themselves taken a racist and/or homophobic stance (to name just two issues), and will defend that without question or apology. Make up your own opinions, but first get an idea on who you're trying to defend. This person's writing doesn't exist in a vacuum, and it's no a secret what his agenda is. I agree he has the right to express it, and I have the right to counter his writing, by showing what else they're writing about.