R.I.P. Andrew Breitbart

Andrew Breitbart

Conservative journalist Andrew Breitbart died at the age of 43 early this morning in Los Angeles due to "natural causes" according to a post on his BigGovernment website, which included this forward from his new book, "Righteous Indignation":

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.

Three years ago, I was mostly a behind-the-scenes guy who linked to stuff on a very popular website. I always wondered what it would be like to enter the public realm to fight for what I believe in. I’ve lost friends, perhaps dozens. But I’ve gained hundreds, thousands—who knows?—of allies. At the end of the day, I can look at myself in the mirror, and I sleep very well at night.

Internet blogger Matt Drudge, a close friend of Breitbart, had this message for his readers:

In the first decade of the DRUDGEREPORT Andrew Breitbart was a constant source of energy, passion and commitment. We shared a love of headlines, a love of the news, an excitement about what's happening. I don't think there was a single day during that time when we did not flash each other or laugh with each other, or challenge each other. I still see him in my mind's eye in Venice Beach, the sunny day I met him. He was in his mid 20's. It was all there. He had a wonderful, loving family and we all feel great sadness for them today...

I'm not sure what was going on with Breitbart, but he seemed to show signs of instability recently, particularly some video footage I saw recorded of him during the CPAC conference in Washington. His work will definitely be missed. America's Left won't mourn his death, that's for sure.

UPDATE: The LA Times has this bit of additional information on his passing:

Conservative blogger Andrew Breitbart collapsed while walking near his Brentwood home, his father-in-law said.

Sources told The Times that Breitbart was rushed to Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center about midnight, where he was pronounced dead of natural causes. No further details were available.

His father-in-law, actor Orson Bean, told the Associated Press that a neighbor saw Breitbart fall and called paramedics. Bean also said Breitbart had suffered from heart problems in the past.

"Andrew passed away unexpectedly from natural causes shortly after midnight this morning in Los Angeles," Breitbart.com said. "We have lost a husband, a father, a son, a brother, a dear friend, a patriot and a happy warrior. "

I did not know that Orson Bean was his father-in-law.