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Andrew Breitbart, US conservative publisher, dies | Andrew Breitbart, US conservative publisher, dies |
(40 minutes later) | |
Andrew Breitbart, the US conservative author and activist known for releasing embarrassing "sting" videos of left-wing groups, has died, aged 43. | |
He published semi-naked photos that had been tweeted by Congressman Anthony Weiner which ultimately led to the Democrat's resignation. | |
A href="http://www.breitbart.tv/in-memoriam-andrew-breitbart-1969-2012/" >Breitbart.com editor confirmed his death of "natural causes". | |
Breitbart collapsed when walking near his home in Los Angeles, according to the Associated Press news agency. | |
He had suffered heart problems a year earlier, said his father-in-law, Orson Bean, who told AP: "I don't know what to say. It's devastating." | |
Breitbart helped set up the Huffington Post and was an editor on the Drudge Report website before running his own website, Breitbart.com and its most popular branch, BigGovernment.com | |
'Happy warrior' | 'Happy warrior' |
Breitbart is survived by his wife, Susannah Bean Breitbart, 41, and four children. | |
"We have lost a husband, a father, a son, a brother, a dear friend, a patriot and a happy warrior," the statement from Breitbart.com editor-in-chief Joel Pollak said. | |
Breitbart was at the centre of several controversies involving liberal figures, including publishing tweets from former Representative Anthony Weiner that included photos of the New York Democrat in his underwear. | Breitbart was at the centre of several controversies involving liberal figures, including publishing tweets from former Representative Anthony Weiner that included photos of the New York Democrat in his underwear. |
Mr Weiner initially denied he had been sending lewd photos and messages online to women, before he stepped down after admitting the tweets were his own. | Mr Weiner initially denied he had been sending lewd photos and messages online to women, before he stepped down after admitting the tweets were his own. |
In 2010, Breitbart published an edited video of a US agriculture department official, Shirley Sherrod, telling a black advocacy group, NAACP, how she had once been reluctant to help a white farmer save his farm. | In 2010, Breitbart published an edited video of a US agriculture department official, Shirley Sherrod, telling a black advocacy group, NAACP, how she had once been reluctant to help a white farmer save his farm. |
It soon emerged that Ms Sherrod's story, in its full context, was one of racial understanding in which she realised her mistake and ultimately helped the farmer. | It soon emerged that Ms Sherrod's story, in its full context, was one of racial understanding in which she realised her mistake and ultimately helped the farmer. |
Ms Sherrod, who is black, was fired amid the controversy, but later offered a new job in the department, and sued Breitbart for defamation. | Ms Sherrod, who is black, was fired amid the controversy, but later offered a new job in the department, and sued Breitbart for defamation. |
'Passion and commitment' | |
In one of his penultimate tweets - when asked if he had apologised to Ms Sherrod - Breitbart replied: "Apologize for WHAT?" | In one of his penultimate tweets - when asked if he had apologised to Ms Sherrod - Breitbart replied: "Apologize for WHAT?" |
Ms Sherrod spoke of her surprise upon learning of Breitbart's death on Thursday. | |
She told the US political website, Talking Points Memo: "My prayers go out to Mr Breitbart's family as they cope through this very difficult time." | |
Similar videos made by activist James O'Keefe that led to investigations of the liberal community outreach group ACORN and Planned Parenthood were also published by Breitbart. | |
Media Matters, a liberal media watchdog group that had clashed with Breitbart over the years, said in a short statement their "thoughts and prayers are with his family today". | Media Matters, a liberal media watchdog group that had clashed with Breitbart over the years, said in a short statement their "thoughts and prayers are with his family today". |
"We've disagreed more than we've found common ground, but there was never any question of Andrew's passion for and commitment to what he believed," the statement said. | "We've disagreed more than we've found common ground, but there was never any question of Andrew's passion for and commitment to what he believed," the statement said. |
href="http://bigpeace.com/lsolov/2012/03/01/draft/" >In a post quoting a soon-to-be-published book, Mr Breitbart wrote: "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." | "I love fighting back, I love finding allies, and- famously - I enjoy making enemies." |