Here is my counterargument.

It would be unethical to team publicly against average person, based on his opinions, but Thiel is not a average person.

Large amounts of money change the status of a person. Money and political power are largely interchangeable. Thiel is billionaire and his status and influence is closer to major politician, large company or small state than average joe.

Thiel has demonstrated that he is willing to use his money to attack against others he don't like, so I think he should be able to take some blowback. Hie livelihood is not in a stake.