If you had to reimplement in C then it suggests that whatever non-C language the original was in, e.g. Python, you would have had to re-write it in C. Otherwise, you would have had the choice to reimplement your Lisp in a more suitable language than C that was acceptable. Lisp here seems a side issue.
You are probably correct. There were snide remarks made about Lisp in particular however, like claiming it is not "used in industry" and is thus "nonstandard". Similar remarks could have been made against any language the guy DIDN'T know. Regardless of the reasoning there are people like this who end up stamping Lisp (and other non-dominant solutions) out.
