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Shira Lazar

Shira Lazar

Posted: October 7, 2010 11:28 AM

Andrew Brietbart is known for being a lightning rod for controversy. The conservative blogger and founder of Breitbart.com and BigGovernment.com is never one to pull punches on divisive political topics ranging from Shirley Sherrod to James O'Keefe. After we were guests on Fox News Channel's Red Eye last night, I caught up with Mr. Breitbart for an impromptu and revealing interview.

Among other things, we spoke about his role in the media fire storm surrounding the administration's dismissal of Shirley Sherrod, his appearance on the inaugural episode of CNN's new Parker Spitzer show and about uber-controversial activist James O'Keefe and O'Keefe's recent CNN prank that made worldwide headlines. Be sure to watch the full videos below and read the full post including highlights on my blog on CBSNews.com/OnTheScene

Here he talks about going on the first episode of CNN's Parker Spitzer and why he believes his soundbite about Shirley Sherrod was cut.

The video below includes our interview about activist James O'Keefe's recent CNN prank. He gives his advice to O'Keefe and defends reporter Abbie Boudreau, who he believes shouldn't have been targeted.

 

Follow Shira Lazar on Twitter: www.twitter.com/shiralazar

Andrew Brietbart is known for being a lightning rod for controversy. The conservative blogger and founder of Breitbart.com and BigGovernment.com is never one to pull punches on divisive political to...
Andrew Brietbart is known for being a lightning rod for controversy. The conservative blogger and founder of Breitbart.com and BigGovernment.com is never one to pull punches on divisive political to...
 
 
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07:24 AM on 10/31/2010
Regarding Breibart's view on the Black Farmer reparations, he looks to be a more sophisticated version of a caller I heard call into Hannity's radio show. She said something pretty close to,"Why do those people keep complaining about things? My god, slavery ended 150 years ago!!" A quick, cursory look at this issue reveals a long history of injustice done to many, many black farmers over a very long period of time. This complaint of Breitbart's that I've seen parroted by conservative bloggers on other sites regarding the number of applications vastly outnumbering the census count of black farmers apparently doesn't take into account the huge number who are not currently farmers because they were forced out of farming, at great financial loss by past discrimination, long ago. The past injustice needs to be appropriately addressed.
08:14 PM on 10/20/2010
Would anyone know if this guy did anything to encourage better race reletions in the country?
09:49 PM on 10/30/2010
"Would anyone know if this guy did anything to encourage better race reletions in the country? "

Seeing no response, I suppose you have your answer, but it does seem a bit irrelevant. Sort of like asking the pizza delivery person when was the last time she did anything irrelevant to delivering pizza.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Madagain
antirepublicanism
07:08 AM on 10/11/2010
I could never trust this Breitbart after his sleasy attempt to discredit Shirley Sherrod. What amazes me is how this snake can remain as a spokesman of repute to ANYONE. Typical Faux commentator.
09:57 PM on 10/30/2010
To everyone else -- I'll try to explain.

Very likely no person sees the whole elephant, or forest, or whatever metaphor you prefer for "Truth" -- a knowledge of *everything* as it is, as it was, and as it will be.

In my younger days I played chess often and well. My subconscious brain would see moves several ahead of my conscious brain; revealing huge power to detect certain kinds of pattern.

Political bloggers "see" certain patterns that others do not, long before those patterns become obvious. Because of the failure of socialism everywhere on the planet, persons such as Breitbart are very sensitive to the early warning signs of socialism. As it is only a warning sign, it might not actually develop into full blown socialism, but it is better to be warned than to be ignorant.

As it happens, Socialism is a pretty good theory and most religions have some kinds of socialism in it, Mormonism has a lot. The problem is that it seems always to be "co-opted" by someone "more equal" than the others, and once those "more equal" elite gain control, only bloodshed can restore liberty. This has been proven dozens of times. "Comrade Lenin" was everyone's equal until he was not anyone's equal and tens of millions of Russians died as he tried to implement socialism. Stalin, considering Lenin weak, tried harder; ultimately about 50 million Russians died.

So, yeah, I salute Andrew Breitbart for watching for warning signs of elitism.
11:40 AM on 10/08/2010
This "Pigford Settlement" is a straw man. It doesn't explain or excuse the fact that he slimed Shirley Sherrod with a baseless and false attack and has yet to apologize for it
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
CynAnne
Laureates in Fact and Reality
02:01 AM on 10/08/2010
Andrew B.s 'wunderkind' O'Keefe hasn't really been heard from recently...we wonder why? Oh yes, THIS is why: http://www.salon.com/news/james_okeefe/index.html?story=/opinion/feature/2010/10/06/james_o_keefe_fox ...hoisted high from his own petard! *rofl*
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Madagain
antirepublicanism
06:38 AM on 10/11/2010
Thanks for the link, CynAnne. I already knew Fox and their propaganda machine were outrageous in their claims. But when it affects people their jobs and carriers, and is absolute lies, it seems to me these hoaxsters should be held liable and in some cases locked up, starting with Brietbart.
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Andrea Doria
GOP - Destroying the Middle Class since 1980
09:52 PM on 10/07/2010
Brietbart's in it for the money...
09:48 PM on 10/30/2010
Unlikely. It is more likely that the most well known bloggers are in it for a combination of fame and a real desire to change the culture of the United States.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Yocepuc
It just shows to go ya.
05:19 PM on 10/07/2010
Why does Breitbart always look like he's done half the eight-ball in his pocket?
01:10 AM on 10/11/2010
Cause he has :) LOL...
04:40 PM on 10/07/2010
The "Pigford Settlement"
A government settlement to award many black farmers who were discriminated against repeatedly while white farmers got countless government handouts. The thought of Obama even adding more funding to it outraged conservatives like Rep. Stephen King and Fox's Hannity and O'Reilly. Breitbart is infuriatingly misinterpreting the facts as he always does to rile his ignorant base of believers.
If anyone cares to read the truth about it below.

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/07/shirley_sherrod_and_the_discrimination_of_black_fa.php#more
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hstdem
In search of the 4th Estate
12:31 PM on 10/08/2010
Not to mention the fact that she was hired by the Ag department AFTER these lawsuits were decided.
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Madagain
antirepublicanism
06:55 AM on 10/11/2010
So a US judge decides in favor of the Sherrods, but Fox is trying to criminalize them. How sick is it that we have a Fox network (and it is prospering) in the US? And how revealing it is that they are pushing for the republicans to get controll of our government. Thanks for the link, YaKnowWhat.
09:37 PM on 10/30/2010
"And how revealing it is that they are pushing for the republicans to get controll of our government."

I have no idea how revealing it is, or what you think it reveals, until you tell us.

From time to time Democrats are in control and from time to time Republicans are in control. We are still here. Don't worry so much about it. It's been a rough four years with Democrats in Congress but we'll manage somehow.

(PS: "we" is citizens of the United States).
04:16 PM on 10/07/2010
This guy is the most disingenuous Republican.
His whole faux praising of Hunter Thompson, Abbie Hoffman, and "I grew up a liberal" is such a ploy in an attempt to persuade people that he once was fooled by the ideals of "progressiveness" and is now fighting for the truth of how duped we all are.
The man is a sham. O'Keefe and Breitbart and Fox scammed the country and Congress into believing Acorn was illegitimate by pretending to be a pimp and prostitute and editing video much like he did with Shirley Sherrod.
Breitbart and O'Keefe are the lowest lizard life forms and should be serving time behind bars or in reptile cages.
09:42 PM on 10/30/2010
"persuade people that he once was fooled by the ideals of "progressiveness" and is now fighting for the truth of how duped we all are."

Many of you are not duped; you approach socialism with eyes wide open in hopes of being among the elite rather than what is more likely the case, you will be among the proletariat that feeds the elite.

"duped" speaks to the failure of socialism -- not the idea of it, which appeals to many people, but that only one boss man is permitted -- Lenin, Stalin, etc. and you are not him. Eldredge Cleaver's biography is interesting and informative in this context.
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bluegigi
02:44 PM on 10/07/2010
It's interesting that the writer of this story neglected to mention that Breibart is a co-founder with AH of HuffPo.....
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
CynAnne
Laureates in Fact and Reality
02:03 AM on 10/08/2010
And Lucifer was once most beloved of all angels, before his arrogance cost him his eternal grace, gigi...your point, again?
HUFFPOST COMMUNITY MODERATOR
Billyguitar
Disgusted by politics since John Anderson lost. In
10:57 AM on 10/08/2010
Great zinger!
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HUFFPOST COMMUNITY MODERATOR
Weirdwriter
11:38 PM on 10/09/2010
Yow! Thanks for the best come-back on that tiresome, irrelevant reminder! Fav'd.
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HUFFPOST COMMUNITY MODERATOR
Json
Cynical dreamer, sarcastic idealist...
11:19 AM on 10/08/2010
Is it? It doesn't seem interesting.
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02:12 PM on 10/07/2010
I see HP is really against people bad-mouthing Breitbart. Maybe it's because he helped start this site, and him and AH are tight.
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HUFFPOST COMMUNITY MODERATOR
Weirdwriter
11:40 PM on 10/09/2010
He was paid to help put a web site together. Big whup. Now he wishes he had half of AH's attention and respect.
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12:50 PM on 10/07/2010
Why are you giving this fraud any airtime, any coverage. As the man, himself, has indicated, nothing that comes out of his mouth can be trusted.
12:42 PM on 10/07/2010
I'd like to know what his proof is esp. since he says he didnt know anything about this farm scandal when he slimed Shirley Sherrod. So now he says she was fired after he aired the baseless attack because they were afraid this was going to come out? Sounds like another baseless attack