I was a vegetarian when the Smiths were still about, and would say that for those of us to who the deaths of animals matter the issue is forgotten about by those who choose to eat meat. he has clumsily mucked up by getting the two issues mixed up, and typically the fuss won't bring a focus onto factory farming, but will just make his voice more alien, and less likely to be heard.
I've never found it useful to do the standing up and protestinmg, but to engage in discussion with people who choose to discuss it, even though this is usually meat eaters on the agressive.