America has lost a profound, conservative voice today. Andrew Breitbart was a man unafraid to speak out in the name of conservatism, unafraid to take a stand when the liberal, mainstream media misstepped (a daily occurrence), and unafraid to defend those who needed defending the most. Yes, the conservative movement has lost a little piece of themselves today. I'll never forget the first time I had heard of Andrew Breitbart. It was four years ago. I had just started to become politically active and "Conservative Girl with a Voice" was just taking off when I started to see this guy everywhere on the news and on the Internet. It was then that a spark ignited inside of me. Here was a guy who was not afraid to call out the media when everyone else seemed to be sitting idly by on sidelines, quietly. I quickly came to realize this was who Andrew Breitbart really was. I remained amazed at how he managed to keep his cool when nasty progressives attacked him and attempted to destroy him. I don't think they got the memo that this was The Andrew Breitbart, a man who no one could take down.
I will never forget how amazingly cool it felt to learn that he knew about me and my blog shortly after I started writing. I almost fainted when he started following me on Twitter. For a guy of that caliber to take the time to read a new blog and follow the work of a new blogger just learning the ropes meant the world to me and other young, conservative writers like me, but that is who Andrew Breitbart was. I will never forget him or the lessons I learned from him. As someone tweeted this morning, "It is up to us. We are ALL Andrew Breitbart's now." How poignant and how so very true. The tears, shock and sadness will eventually fade away, little by little, but Andrew Breitbart, the activist and man will not. He will ALWAYS be right beside us, guiding us down the path to a better, freer, stronger America. Perhaps Sean Hannity put it best in a tweet he tweeted me this morning: "We can all learn from his fearlessness." Sean, yes we can. Rest in peace, Andrew. I will never forget you, your message and the way in which you ignited a spark inside of me to carry on and fight the good fight. Well done, Andrew, well done!!!
To Andrew's family and friends: My thoughts and prayers are with you all during this very difficult time.
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