Radical conservative media figure Andrew Breitbart, whose string of websites targeted Democratic politicians and values, and were influential in the rise of the Tea Party, died Thursday at the age of 43. "Andrew passed away unexpectedly from natural causes shortly after midnight this morning in Los Angeles," read a note on his website BigGovernment.com.
"We have lost a husband, a father, a son, a brother, a dear friend, a patriot and a happy warrior. Andrew lived boldly, so that we more timid souls would dare to live freely and fully, and fight for the fragile liberty he showed us how to love." No details were given about the cause of his death, but the Los Angeles Times reported that he died while walking near his home in the swanky locale of Brentwood.
His main site, Breitbart.com featured a popular collection of right-leaning stories. He founded it in 2005 after working for years as an editor at the Drudge Report and helping to found the Huffington Post. Last year he helped force the resignation of up-and-coming New York Congressman Anthony Weiner after revealing that Weiner was sending lewd photos of himself to female followers on Twitter.
A year earlier his credibility was questioned when he released a video that purported to show a top official in the Department of Agriculture making racist comments. The official resigned, but Breitbart was later found to have edited the clip to take the remarks out of context.