Most people take sick time when they are sick. It's only normal. If your job is to talk, but you have partial laryngitis, you're not doing anyone any favors by not taking care of yourself.
In making a stand about near-perfect attendance, he negates the actual reality. Outside combat or short staffing of first responders and medical providers, no one is so dang important that their attendance should come at the expense of their health, when sick time is available.