VIENNA, Va., March 1, 2012 — Political provocateur extraordinaire Andrew Breitbart died suddenly last night at his home in the Brentwood section of Los Angeles of an apparent heart attack. He was 43.
He was a dedicated family man, and, according to family sources, had just put his four little children to bed, and walked outside for a moment. A neighbor saw him collapse, called 911, but he could not be revived. No official cause of death has been released.
Breitbart came from a strongly liberal family and was a journalist who would take on any cause or subject which aroused strong feelings. In recent years, he disliked the way “his” Democratic Party was going and became a cheerleader and protagonist for the Conservative point of view, appearing frequently on the Bill Maher Show, and with Dennis Miller and others on the Fox News Network.
Two of his crusades were most memorable. He had received one of the supposedly personal twittered pictures of Representative Anthony Weiner in his underwear and published it.
After first denying the picture was his and then amending it to “with certitude I cannot say that it is me,” the Congressman quickly found out that Breitbart would ride that horse mercilessly, and Weiner was forced to resign in disgrace.
Back in 2009, it was Breitbart who published the secret hidden camera videos of the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN) group, showing them going to great lengths to make improper loans to ineligible applicants, and telling them how to avoid taxes. The damaging videos resulted in that organization’s loss of credibility and ultimate demise.
For awhile Breitbart served as an editor for The Drudge Report and was hired by Arianna Huffington as an editor and writer for the Huffington Post. Both publications today mourned his loss to the world of journalism and politics.
In his book, “Righteous Indignation,” Breitbart is quoted as saying the following: "I love my job. I love fighting for what I believe in. I love having fun while doing it. I love reporting stories that the Complex refuses to report. I love fighting back, I love finding allies, and — famously — I enjoy making enemies…. At the end of the day, I can look at myself in the mirror, and I sleep very well at night."
His enemies were the mainstream media and their obvious liberal bias which he referred to as “the Complex.” The quixotic Breitbart appeared never happier than when he was in the middle of a confrontation and knew he had his facts absolutely straight, though there were others who disputed those positions.
Liberals may secretly rejoice at his passing, but Conservatives will feel the loss keenly.
Breitbart was a provocative and irrepressible voice in the world of blogging and journalism; the type of writer who would attack a buzz saw and you’d send your condolences to Black and Decker.
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