> The general argument I've seen has been that Proposition 8 was "just an opinion" or "just freedom of speech"

> need to have a position where Brendan supporting Prop 8 was not bad

The second statement _absolutely_ does not follow from the first. You can consider Prop 8 immoral and wrong, and still want it protected by freedom of speech.

And calling the internet's behavior "a lynch mob" or a "witch hunt" is not interfering with anyone's freedom of speech, so you don't have to worry about that.