My gut feeling is that more users are flagging this one because they think it's off-topic for HN than because they disagree with it, but that's just a guess.
That said in my mind it's on-topic for HN since YC themselves have been on the receiving end of what the article talks about (it does mention the outcry to remove Thiel from the FB board, but not that YC also faced pressure to cut ties to Thiel)
The point is: Thiel is completely within his rights to endorse Trump. It's not like he forfeited his humanity by doing so.
It seems you have an issue with people speaking out against him. He chose to publicly support Trump, he could've voted and contributed behind closed doors like most other wealthy people. He chose to make his opinion public because he understands that he is influential and he hoped to exert that influence, but you can't have it both ways.
At least one Silicon Valley CEO can tell you how that one worked out for him.
You seem to be reading a lot more into their comments than is needed. I read nothing in their comments other than clarification based on what's in your replies. They've just expressed a desire to discuss the submission, which seems to actually support the idea of criticism.
Which implies that someone was arguing the contrary.
They explicitly did not imply that something was unlawful, which is how you phrased your reply:
Nobody is accusing him of being unlawful or outside his rights to endorse him. Nor, as far as I'm aware, has he been deprived on any right by that association.