Iron will or foolish belief. If you have a lot to lose, you shouldn't be putting yourself in bad positions as he did. I can take on that kind of risk as I have little to lose in doing so and much to gain from making sure a domain like that would stay online, even if it's purpose is to just redirect to the rebranding. It's a good thing they shifted to a knew system of control for the domain anyway and it's something I would actually support as it gives a chance for warning to go out should something go wrong.
You will find those kinds of people on all sides of the aisle and you can never be immune to their leeching. I've seen my fair share within the right to publicly record seen over the years.