Neither can I. When I called them on this remark, they couldn't defend it either, and in fact a couple of them backed down. But I left there so mad that I think it'll be a while before I go back - actually, my (former) friends probably don't want me back, anyway! It was a high-stress few days.
It makes me think that the left doesn't understand "character" and what it involves. A concept that is totally foreign to them.