Republican Party

Andrew Breitbart Dead at 43

This is a bit of a shocker.

Andrew Breitbart, the conservative blogger and journalist, died suddenly on Thursday morning, according to his website Big Journalism. He was 43.

The site said that Breitbart died of "natural causes" shortly after midnight on Thursday. ABC News confirmed that Breitbart had passed away. Breitbart's attorney also confirmed the news to CNN.

Breitbart's father-in-law told the Associated Press that Breitbart was walking near his house when he collapsed. Someone saw him fall and called 911. Breitbart was taken to UCLA Medical Center, but could not be revived.

I don't have much to say about Andrew at this point. More later on the podcast. Some other reactions:

Sarah Palin:

We are all stunned and saddened by the news of Andrew Breitbart’s passing. Andrew was a warrior who stood on the side of what was right. He defended what was right. He defended the defenseless.

Rick Santorum:

What a huge loss, in my opinion for our country and certainly for the conservative movement. My prayers go out to his family.

Michele Bachmann:

Andrew Breitbart’s family is in my prayers at the news of his sudden passing. Today we lost a true conservative and a man of conviction.

Mitt Romney:

Ann and I are deeply saddened by the passing of @AndrewBreitbart: brilliant entrepreneur, fearless conservative, loving husband and father.

Media Matters:

"there was never any question of Andrew's passion for and commitment to what he believed"

Cliff Schecter:

Reminder as we watch geriatric hooker users debate womens access2 birth control--O'Keefe & Breitbart helped kick it off w/bogus PP "sting."

And finally, here's how Breitbart memorialized the passing of Ted Kennedy back in 2009.

UPDATE: Andrew Breitbart's slash-and-burn pursuit of his own career destroyed countless lives and livelihoods. Innocent bystanders in the public debate -- noncombatants as I sometimes call them -- were crushed by Andrew's mendacity, his obsessive careerism and his unethical business practices. Workers at ACORN and everyone who that organization sought to help have been crushed. The war against Planned Parenthood was started by Andrew Breitbart and that's led to its defunding by both Congress and Komen. Who knows how many women will ultimately be hurt by Breitbart's scams and prank videos. I have nothing positive to say about him.