Conservative blog shuts down comments, apparently after being threatened

Yesterday the folks who run the blog "American Thinker" announced they were shutting down reader comments.  This prompted someone named Andrea Widburg, who seems to be a staffer there, to write a bizarre defense of that decision:

Yesterday we announced that we're closing comments at American Thinker.  [Readers were upset by that decision.]  *Without divulging why we made that decision,* here are a few points to ponder.

 First: America is deeply destabilized, and [bad/scary] things are happening [to people who voice conservative opinions].  Sometimes those things hit close to home. 

Second, ... we hate to be the mean parent, but again [?], sometimes you have to do what you have to do. 

Third, this site is a labor of love for...its founder, Thomas Lifson.  [He would not have approved] such a difficult decision when there were other choices to be made... All of us here agree that the choice was [either] shut down the comments or shut down the site.

That last statement seems to be a false dichotomy:  It's pretty clear that your founder was threatened: "Either shut down comments or...[threat]."  You could have refused to comply, forcing the extorter to either carry out the threat, or shut up.  While everyone in that position obviously has to make their own decision, positing this as "either shut down comments or shut down the site" isn't accurate.    

 Fourth:  If you want to make your opinion known, consider submitting an essay.

First, most commenters aren't capable of doing that.  Second, since you've clearly signalled that you've made the choice of not offending whatever agency or person threatened your founder, do you seriously expect people to take the time to write an essay that almost certainly won't be published?

Fifth, if you're really exploding with things to say, [maybe you should] start your own blog.

Ah, the classic defense by Jack Dorsey, Mark Z and fellow dictators: "If you don't like us, try to start your own site."  

Sixth, American Thinker remains what it's always been: a forum for conservative thinkers who want to contribute to the national conversation by offering information and ideas consistent with American principles: the Constitution, individual liberty, the free market, and the rule of law.

Except that you're no longer a forum.  Contributions (comments) from readers are no longer allowed.  And your lip-service to "American principles" rings hollow:  You caved to the demands of someone who threatened to hurt the blog's founder for standing up for the right of free speech.  Obviouly that's your right, but surely you understand that this is how the Left wins without having to expose their dictatorial methods.

You still have a slight means of fighting back:  If your staffers tell others--in person, not using email or text--that you made this decision because of a threat, and name the agency or person who made the threat, those others can spread the word.  But the agency couldn't follow up on the threat without confirming it--which is something they presumably wouldn't want to do.  But again, not blaming you for submitting to the clear threat.

Wonder how many times the Left will do the same thing to others who stand for free speech?