That's true, and it is really unfortunate. In fact, to go back to the original story posted here, I groan when I hear that PETA has made headlines, because you can usually count on it being some sort of divisive, sensationalist asshattery. But I'm happy with what they're doing here--it's interesting and potentially effective.

For what it's worth, in my experience the irrational vegan militants are indeed a minority of the people who take this position. If you're interested in reading a rigorous (but pretty easy to digest) philosophical defense of the consideration of animal welfare, I'd recommend checking out "Practical Ethics," by Peter Singer. It's satisfying to read a careful, intelligent approach to a topic that's often discussed in the worst possible ways...