"If you're asking me if he would have been perfectly within his rights to allow the ad to run like that the answer is yes. Just as the group who complained about the ad were well within their rights to do so. They voiced a complaint and he agreed and retracted. I don't see a Freedom of Speech issue here."
The free speech issue is that he was intimidated into making an apology when he was within his rights in the first place. Why does he have to apologize for doing something he had a right to do?
When they voiced a complaint, he should have said, "Look, honey, get out of my office, go home, and cook dinner for your husband. And remember, always remember these two words: SHUT UP."
Oh please. Not everyone steadfastly refuses to see another's point of view. That does not make him weak or mean he was intimidated and it certainly has nothing to do with the First Amendment. If he were sued for the ad then you could make that case.