Breitbart a conservative rebel with a cause

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By Jennifer Harper

He is hybrid journalist, content wrangler, glib analyst. But most of all, Andrew Breitbart relishes running against the grain. For starters, he is an unabashed political conservative in a Hollywood dominated by liberals.

The man has moxie.

Frustrated that like-minded players in his hometown felt too intimidated to speak their mind, he helped organize a support group called "Friends of Abe" as a haven and forum for colleagues with similar ideas and values. The group is now hundreds strong.

A pronounced loathing for celebrity journalists, media conglomerates and glitzy TV networks drew him to contribute to nimble, alternative media sites like the Drudge Report and Huffington Post and ultimately create Breitbart.com, his own "news portal." All three compete with the mainstream media for news consumers on the Web.

When he became convinced that the traditional news media didn't have the courage to investigate how the controversial liberal advocacy group ACORN spent its federal dollars, there was little doubt in his mind what to do: Straighten his backbone, launch a new Web site and work with activist filmmakers to tell the story.

Mr. Breitbart's BigGovernment.com earlier this month aired the now infamous undercover video footage of ACORN workers advising young actors costumed as pimp and underage prostitute how to cheat on taxes and loan applications.

(Corrected paragraph:) Though the traditional press ignored the brutal revelations for days, their impact was swift and far-reaching. The White House was irked, and said so. The organization fired the workers captured on tape and started an internal investigation. And Congress swiftly stripped federal funding for ACORN.

"Andrew is doing what all journalists should be doing: Seek the truth, expose the truth, stand for the truth and bring it forth to the public. Without fear. I say that Andrew is an American hero," actor Jon Voight told The Washington Times in an interview.

Mr. Voight is one of a burgeoning group of silver screen conservatives who question the role of the news media and popular culture in the erosion of traditional values. Mr. Voight also knows a good production when he sees one.

"Andrew's on a mission to get information in a time when it is not easy to discern the truth. I believe he is a good citizen doing his duty, with an eye on accuracy. And the mainstream media doesn't know what to do with that. It's no wonder to me that the public is frustrated with the press," he said.