I received a phone call this morning with some incredibly sad news: that Andrew Breitbart had passed away.
I had gotten to know Andrew over the past year, and I am so sorry that more of you will never get to know what a warm, kindhearted, wonderful man he was.
He was incredibly generous with his time, and loved to sit and chat with anyone who wanted to get more involved in politics. Over the next few days you are going to hear many, many stories from conservative bloggers and activists who he personally encouraged (I've linked to some below - if you'd like your post linked, please post it in the comments or email it to me). The word I keep hearing this morning about him is "fighter," and he truly was.
When I interviewed Andrew about his book, Righteous Indignation, my favorite part of the interview was when he talked about how much he enjoyed "fighting with his hands tied behind his back." The post this morning on Andrew's websites announcing his passing quoted an updated conclusion to the book:
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.The conservative movement may have lost a great man, but the movement itself is not lost. Peter Ingemi sent an email earlier today that cited a quote from the movie Spartacus: "He'll come back. He'll come back and he'll be millions!"
Let us be those millions. The greatest honor to his legacy would be for each of us to take up his fight. You do not need a national television platform or a website that gets millions of hits. Every single one of us has some time we can give, some skill we can lend to the cause. We won't all expose national corruption scandals like ACORN, but we can each make a difference in local elections in our communities.
John Donne's famous poem "Death Be Not Proud" starts with these lines:
Death, be not proud, though some have called thee
Mighty and dreadful, for thou art not so;
For those whom thou think'st thou dost overthrow
Die not, poor Death, nor yet canst thou kill me...Death cannot overthrow Andrew Breitbart, nor do his works die with him. Not as long as we are here to remember him, to honor him, and to continue his fight.
God bless you, Andrew Breitbart. It was truly an honor to know you and I thank you for inspiring me and countless others to work for our cause. Prayers to your family and many, many friends around the world. Rest in peace, friend.
Further reading:
Big Government | In Memoriam: Andrew Breitbart (1969 - 2012)
Sunshine State Sarah | They hate, Breitbart laughs
Sunshine State Sarah | Andrew Breitbart is going to save the world
Michelle Malkin | DEVASTATING: Andrew Breitbart, RIP
Da Tech Guy Blog | Andrew Breitbart is dead at only 43
RedState | Jeff Emanuel | Andrew Breitbart, 1969 - 2012
Hot Air | Breaking: RIP, Andrew Breitbart; Update: Collapsed while taking a walk near his home
Weekly Standard Blog | William Kristol | Andrew Breitbart, 1969-2012
IMAO | Nuke the News: RIP Andrew Breitbart
Right Wing News | Andrew Breitbart Was a Hero Who Died Too Young
Monica Crowley | Andrew Breitbart, 1969-2012
Legal Insurrection | Andrew Breitbart dead
Ricochet | A Lost Warrior
UPDATE: Here is a very touching tribute from Red Eye's Greg Gutfeld, who was very close friends with Andrew.
UPDATE II: A great tribute from Toby Toons:
UPDATE III: Great moment from Ace of Spades: Flashback: Breitbart's Most Brazen Moment, and also this post about CPAC.
UPDATE IV: More links...
Yid With Lid | I Will Miss You Friend - Andrew Breitbart Dead at 43
Nice Deb | Andrew Breitbart Dead at 43
The Shark Tank | Andrew Breitbart Remembered
The Other McCain | R.I.P., Andrew Breitbart: Innovative Genius of New Media Dies at Age 43
American Pundit | Reactions to the Passing of Andrew Breitbart
The Atlantic Wire | Andrew Breitbart's Unfinished Quest for a Punk Rock Republican
The Right Scoop | Greg Gutfeld, Sean Hannity remember Andrew Breitbart
Gateway Pundit | Tragic News: Conservative Hero Andrew Breitbart is dead
UPDATE V: Moving statement from Matt Drudge, posted on the front page of the Drudge Report today:
DEAR READER: 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... MDRUDGE
UPDATE VI: Still more links. The number of people who Andrew Breitbart influenced is beyond my ability to count.
The Right Hook | This is who I am, this is what I do, and Andrew Breitbart is why
Commentary | Andrew Breitbart, 1969-2012
Publius Forum | RIP, Andrew Breitbart
Stix Blog | Only the Good Die Young
Anthropocon | Andrew Breitbart, An Upright Soul
Goldfish and Clowns | The Battle Does Not End When a Single Soldier Falls
UPDATE VII: This is one of my favorite tributes that I've seen today, from Bosch Fawstin:
UPDATE VIII: More, more, more links. (Please keep sending them to me if I've missed yours, or add it in the comments.)
Wonderful tribute at The Franklin Center.
Investors Business Daily's Andrew Malcolm writes one heckuva tribute.
Stix Blog has collected a lot of great video tributes here.
RedState | Warrior: Two Excellent Remembrances of Andrew Breitbart
The Sundries Shack | R.I.P. Andrew Breitbart, the Friend I Never Really Met.
Sarah Way Down South | RIP, Andrew Breitbart
Taki's Magazine | Gavin McInnes | OBIT: Andrew Breitbart: 1969-2012
And also this from Day By Day Cartoon:
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| (Click image to enlarge) |
The Right Sphere | "...War."
James Madison Institute | Francisco Gonzalez | Andrew Breitbart: No Honorarium Needed
Washington Examiner | Byron York | In politics fight, Breitbart knew culture is key
New York Daily News | S.E. Cupp | The Andrew Breitbart I knew
Oddly Said | For Andrew Breitbart
Brad Essex Report | Andrew Breitbart RIP Bossman
L.A. Times | Andrew Breitbart memorialized on floor of Congress
Foolish Reporter | Andrew Breitbart: He stomped on the Terra
The Loud Talker | Breitbart - A Warrior is Gone
UPDATE X: More links...
RedState | LaborUnionReport | Let A Warrior’s Life And Passing Lead Your Righteous Indignation
Daily Caller | Matthew Boyle | Andrew Breitbart: Warrior, friend, mentor
American Maverick | Andrew Breitbart: Conservative Innovator
Fausta's Blog | Andrew Breitbart is dead?
Megan Barth | Andrew Breitbart--A Tribute
Marooned in Marin | A Personal Reflection On Andrew Breitbart--Helping Him Expose The “Tea Party Called Us The ‘N Word’” Lie
Liberty's Lifeline | Andrew Breitbart, Conservative Gladiator, RIP
Tabitha Hale | Pinterest | Remembering Breitbart
Conservative Compendium | Big
Marathon Pundit | Andrew Breitbart passes away
The Mental Recession | Andrew Breitbart (1969-2012)
Legal Insurrection | Man Against The Mob
Hoosier Access | A tribute to Andrew Breitbart
UPDATE XI: Keep sending the links, everyone. Email them to sarahrumpf at gmail dot com, post in comments, or send to me on twitter @rumpfshaker.
Flyover Country | A Hero is Lost: RIP Andrew Breitbart
Truth About Bills | In Memory of Andrew Breitbart
Jenny Erikson | Andrew Breitbart Owned Life
Melissa Clouthier | Andrew Breitbart: R.I.P. Happy Warrior
PJ Media | Andrew Breitbart: A Whirlwind Dies
The Right Scoop | Rush Limbaugh remembers Andrew Breitbart
Sarah Palin's Facebook tribute to Andrew Breitbart
54°40′ Or Fight! | Conservatives Mourn The Loss Of Patriot Journalist Andrew Breitbart
The Blaze | Jonah Goldberg Breaks Down During Fox Interview Moments After Breitbart News Hits
Rebel Pundit | Andrew Breitbart: Our Fearless General
The Guardian | Joshua Treviño | Andrew Breitbart: marrying new media with political principle
Daily Caller | Tucker Carlson | Andrew Breitbart: RIP
National Review | The Corner | Jonah Goldberg | Andrew RIP
Weekly Standard | Matt Labash | Breitbart's Last Laugh
Save Jersey | Matt DeLuca | RIP Andrew Breitbart
UPDATE XII: Three great video tributes:
YouTube | TheFranklinCenter | Warrior: Franklin Center Remembers Andrew Breitbart
YouTube | Steven Crowder | Remembering Andrew Breitbart
YouTube | HowTheWorldWorks | RIP Andrew Breitbart
UPDATE XIII: More links. Keep 'em coming.
Gateway Pundit | Dana Loesch Remembers Friend and Mentor Andrew Breitbart
Sooper Mexican | God Rest Your Fierce Soul, Andrew Breitbart
Rep. McCotter on the House Floor: Mourning the Loss of Andrew Breitbart
UPDATE XIV: A much-needed laugh:
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| Posted on Twitter by @TXCupcake with this caption: O.M.G! Look at my cat! #Breitbart #IamAndrewBreitbart |
UPDATE XV: Still more links:
Atlas Shrugs | Andrew Breitbart, RIP (1969-2012)
HotAir | Tina Korbe | Santorum, Romney respond to the news of Andrew Breitbart’s death Update: Newt’s response added
RedState | Erick Erickson | A Supernova Now Dark
Me and My Soldier Man | Breitbart
Great collection of quotes by Allahpundit.
Brady Cremeens linked a lot of great tweets on his Storify page.
A Conservative's Voice | The World Needs more Andrew Breitbarts
UPDATE XVI: More, more, more. Keep 'em coming. Email sarahrumpf at gmail dot com, post in the comments, or find me on twitter @rumpfshaker.
Glen Asbury | Ramblings... | Losing Andrew Breitbart: Some Thoughts
Q With A View | I Never Expected Andrew Breitbart to Break My Heart
One Million Breitbarts Facebook group
PJ Media | J. Christian Adams | Andrew Breitbart Ignored the Pain
UPDATE XVII: Here's the link to our podcast, The Snark Factor, from tonight:
The Snark Factor 168 Part 2, Saying Goodbye to Andrew Breitbart
Special guests: Ben Howe, Stephen Bannon, Jedediah Bila, Lisa Mei Norton, Stephen Kruiser, and Paul Croteau.
UPDATE XVIII: Beautiful photo of Andrew Breitbart with his favorite people in the world, his wife Susie and their four children (photo from Susie Bean Breitbart's Facebook page, dated 2008):
UPDATE XIX: Links, links, links...
Alexa Shrugged | Andrew Breitbart RIP (who sent this to me along with the perfect comment: "The fact that we all have these stories is a testament to the kind of man he was.")
Great tribute at 54°40′ Or Fight:
Sister Toldjah | Andrew Breitbart dead?
Ace of Spades | Andrew Breitbart, Warrior
Weasel Zippers | Giddy Up! Steve Bannon Says They Are Going To Release Breitbart’s Tapes Of Obama During His College Years In 7 To 10 Days …
GayPatriot | Breitbart welcomed gays into conservative coalition
Joshua Pundit | Andrew Breitbart 1969-2012 - Life Without A Safety Net
Love this. Not sure who made it, but I found it at Ace of Spades:
Wizbang | The Andrew Breitbart I Knew
Iowahawk | Andrew Breitbart, 1969-2012
Riehl World View | Andrew Breitbart Loves Today
Verum Serum | Andrew Breitbart: The New Media's Swashbuckling Star is Gone
Midnight Blue Says... | Andrew Breitbart Remembered
FOXNation | Friends, Colleagues Pay Tribute to Conservative 'Warrior' Breitbart
CNN Opinion | Nick Gillespie | How Andrew Breitbart changed the news
VodkaPundit | Andrew Breitbart: RIP [UPDATED, BUMPED]
Zilla of the Resistance | A Great American Hero Has Died
The Prudence Paine Papers | Prudence Prize for Best Book: Righteous Indignation by Andrew Breitbart
UPDATE XX: This post gets its own separate update: James O'Keefe writes about his friend, colleague, and fellow "media warrior" at Project Veritas.
UPDATE XXI: More links. My quote of John Donne's poem earlier this morning seems prescient now; Andrew's work will not be overthrown by death. Not with this many people declaring their dedication to the fight. I love that #iambreitbart, #apologizeforWHAT, and #war (if you're missing this reference, read this) are showing up all over my twitter feed.
Chris is Right | R.I.P Andrew Breitbart
The College Conservative | Breitbart: Saying Goodbye to a Legend
Something Fishie | Braveheart is Dead
Misfit Politics has several great posts up: here, here, and here.
UPDATE XXII: I wrote another post with just Twitter tributes about Andrew. You can read it here. Also, more links...
Sister Toldjah | Andrew Breitbart’s Legacy in Three Words: “Apologize for WHAT?”
Snowed In | Andrew Breitbart, 1969 - 2012
The Jersey-Texan | I Am Andrew Breitbart
Mary Katherine Ham interviewing Adam Baldwin on her radio show about Andrew:
YouTube | ADAM BALDWIN on WMAL
Conservative Daily News | Demetrius Minor | Andrew Breitbart: An Icon of Heroic Conservatism
The Jawa Report | Remembering Andrew Breitbart
Atlas Shrugs | Breitbart: Big, Bigger Than Life
UPDATE XXIII: Here are several links from Breitbart's family of websites:
Big Government | Publius | Mark Levin: Breitbart 'Made a Difference'
Big Hollywood | Patricia Heaton | Breitbart: Full of Joy and Chutzpah
Big Journalism | Lawrence Meyers | What Andrew Taught Me
Big Peace | Jim Hanson | Andrew Breitbart: A Brother in Arms
UPDATE XXIV: Here's part of the video from RedEye's tribute to Andrew, which aired last night (I especially like how Greg Gutfeld referred to him as "a wonderful, glorious maniac."):
YouTube | RightSightings | "RedEye" Remembers Andrew Breitbart
UPDATE XXV: Still. More. Links.
Cosmocon | A Conservative Supernova
LifeNews.com | Steven Ertelt | Conservative Media Icon Andrew Breitbart Passes Away
Note: I may not have time during the next few days to add many more links to this post, but please feel free to add your own links in the comments section below. It's a lot easier for me to approve comments than edit posts when I'm away from my computer.
Thank you everyone for sharing your thoughts and memories of Andrew Breitbart.
A true warrior of modern times. RIP Andrew and truly you did not go gentle into that good nigh....
ReplyDeleteWhat a perfect way to phrase it: "we lost a giant."
ReplyDeleteToo soon, too soon, too soon.
Very nice post in honor of Breitbart. We lost a truly fearless patriot.
ReplyDeletethanks for sharing these links. such a sad day.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.aconservativesvoice.com/2012/03/world-needs-more-andrew-breitbart.html
ReplyDeleteI'm just in awe. I had no idea he had touched so many lives. What a huge, gaping hole he leaves behind. I hope and pray we are big enough to fill it - and collectively, I think we are!
ReplyDeleteAndrew Breitbart will be missed. I remember talking to him less than a month ago and now he is gone. He was a fearless crusader and a visionary. He tweeted well past Midnight PST all the time. Tweeting with Breitbart was a joy. He was very open and cool.
ReplyDeletecan't believe he was just at CPAC and now he is gone.
ReplyDeleteI am feeling rather low today, but I find this helps...
ReplyDeleteI couldnt get through all these links right now. Too sad. But I've bookmarked this page & will come back to them later. Thank you so much for this collection. It's overwhelming.
ReplyDeleteNot sure if you had this one from poet Tarzana Joe.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.tarzanajoe.blogspot.com/2012/03/andrew.html
I had come up with this one last night.
ReplyDeletehttp://rpb74.blogspot.com/2012/03/2012-year-of-iambreitbart.html
Yes - a giant blowhard. His last video image, a drunken rant. That's how I'll remember him.
ReplyDeleteSo, "skipper," you came to my website, scrolled through a very long post, signed in and commented, just to say something hateful about a dead man?
ReplyDeleteThat's just...sad. Pathetic, even.