Andrew Breitbart dead at age 43

Wow! Andrew Breitbart dead at age 43 of an apparent heart attack. Complete shocker. I had the pleasure of having dinner with him a few years ago when he was launching BigGovernment.com as an extension of Breitbart.TV. I found him witty, engaging and very committed to conservative causes. I remember him telling me the reason he went in so many directions was because he thought of himself as being borderline ADD.

Whatever you think of his methods or politics, Breitbart exemplified our new age of Internet media, opinion and journalism: fast-paced, unafraid and often outrageous. I think of Breitbart as having carried on the proud tradition of muckraking and yellow journalism (in the best sense). With Anthony Weiner (Weinergate) and ACORN, Andrew proved that you didn't need to be a New York Times, ABC, CBS or Fox to break big stories that have national impact.

The dark side of Andrew was that he could also be a real piece of work. Anyone following his Twitter feed (as I did religiously) could see that he loved getting under the skins of people who didn't share his views ... almost more than logical debate. And yes, he frequently used words that used to be grounds for my mother to issue soap-in-mouth treatments, often going for shock value over content.

There is no doubt he was polarizing. A lot of his leftie Twitter followers are now sharing how happy they are he's dead while Rolling Stone published Matt Taibbi expressing the "I'm glad you're dead" mentality in a more thoroughly offensive way than I think Andrew ever would have. (See Andrew Breitbart: Death of Douche -- warning profane content.)

The good and the bad, the yin and the yang -- Andrew you will be missed. And you died way too young.

03.01.2012. 14:58

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