»» Columnists

Andrew Breitbart: CPAC’s Greatest Show on Earth

video

by Tommy Christopher | 7:48 am, February 22nd, 2010

» 10 comments

By now, if you’ve been paying attention to our Conservative Political Action Conference coverage, you’ve likely already watched the video of my impromptu interview with Andrew Breitbart (if not, it’s coming after the jump). It’s the best of many “spirited” Breitbart videos to come out of this year’s CPAC. A display like this might damage the reputation of other public figures, but the Big Journalism creator and his fans have nothing to worry about. Just ask my editor. First, if you missed it, here’s the exchange with Breitbart, in the lobby of the Marriott Wardman Hotel. Trust me, you should watch it until the end.

First, a little backstory. I was outside the hotel copping a smoke when I heard some CPAC attendees buzzing about a run-in between Andrew and liberal videographer/columnist Max Blumenthal, that had just occurred (this is an annual rite at CPAC). I learned later, from Max, that he was on his way out of the hotel when he was accosted by James O’Keefe’s ACORN-busting partner, Hannah Giles.

According to Max, she began asking him “bizarre questions,” and a crowd quickly formed. He engaged the crowd for about an hour, and while they started out hostile, by the end, it was much more civil. As the gathering broke up, Breitbart saw Max, and (according to Max) started an argument, part of which can be seen here. (Max’s own video may be available soon.) The crux of the argument was Max’s accusation that Breitbart’s…independent contractor… is a racist. I find it instructive, though, that in both this argument and in his interview with me, he says that the worst thing you can do in America is to accuse someone of racism. Andrew, if you’re reading this, here’s a follow-up: How many notches below that is actually being a racist?

Max also claimed that the DC police who were handling security for the conference advised him to leave for his own safety.

Upon hearing this, I rushed into the hotel to ask Andrew about it. Aside from his dissertation on mucus and weird personal cracks, there are several things worth noting.

First of all, I did not accuse anyone of racism, no matter how much Breitbart wishes I did. I simply asked a question. Breitbart and his crew might want to paint this as an indictment itself, like “when did you stop beating your wife,” but this is just not the case. There’s ample reason to ask it, and it’s a gift-wrapped opportunity for them to put this issue to rest.

In fact, this points up a neat contrast between O’Keefe and myself. I had a reason to ask the question. It’s an issue that’s been raised elsewhere, based on O’Keefe’s own behavior. In fact, after my interview with Breitbart, several CPAC attendees thanked me for “calling it out.”

O’Keefe, on the other hand, decided to set up a sting operation to see if ACORN would give tax help to a pimp and a prostitute. Why? Did O’Keefe have any reason to believe that this was an issue for ACORN? He’s never said so. So what is it about ACORN that made him want to engage in the pimp attack? Where was the probable cause?

If only James or Breitbart would answer that. For it appears that Breitbart’s influence over O’Keefe extends to only let him talk to friendly journalists, but, as our encounter shows, his influence isn’t large enough to include taking responsibility for O’Keefe’s actual product. Apparently, O’Keefe has no editor. This is a great deal for Breitbart, as he gets to exploit O’Keefe’s work, but assumes less responsibility in protecting him.

This brings me to my original point. When I learned that my editor, Colby Hall, was posting my video with a disclaimer, my initial reaction was anger. Upon reflection, though, I can see that this was the right thing for him to do. Whether you like him or not, and whether you consider what he does journalism or not, Andrew Breitbart is already a towering figure on the media landscape – and his influence is still growing. I am generously allowed the freedom to interview people like Breitbart, and comment on them, however I see fit.

Whatever it is that Breitbart’s selling, lots of people are buying, and his array of performances from this weekend are top-of-the-line Breitbart. Love him or hate him, the guy puts on a hell of a show. The trick, for liberals, is to put on a better show.

Editor’s note – on Saturday we published the original video interview with the disclaimer that the opinions reflected by Tommy did not reflect those of Mediaite.

ACORN, Andrew Breitbart, Conservative Political Action Conference, CPAC, CPAC 2010, CPAC10, Hannah Giles, James O'Keefe, James O'Keefe III, Macon Phillips, Max Blumenthal, Rachel Maddow, Tommy Christopher

David C

“Why? Did O’Keefe have any reason to believe that this was an issue for ACORN? He’s never said so. So what is it about ACORN that made him want to engage in the pimp attack? Where was the probable cause?”

I believe it was Hannah Giles’ idea. She said repeatedly in interviews that she use to walk by the ACORN offices where she lived in DC (If I recall the town correctly) and she always saw hookers and their pimps in there.

So being a good journalist, she followed a hunch and it paid off. Surely you would know something about following hunches.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Chris-Jones/1384303476 Chris Jones

Because a lot of the ACORN people are scumbags, lowlifes, and criminals. Therefore, it stands to reason that ACORN wouldn’t mind helping a fellow a lowlife break the law. Why not ask the larger question, why did ACORN think nothing of helping a pimp and prostitute setup an underage child sex ring? I’m guessing it’s probably because they’re a bunch of criminals feeding off the very communities they are supposed to be helping.
Christine

The idea of Hannah Giles accosting someone is quite hilarious. This Max sounds like quite the little bitch.

So let’s see…you want to pull a “sting” on Acorn, an organization you consider corrupt, so you have to come up w/ a scenario to make them look bad if they bite (and that is the GD issue here, they bit hard). This scenario needs to involve housing, obviously, and something illegal going on w/ that housing. What exactly are the options? Seriously, what would have been a better set-up? There aren’t that many options: prostitutes, drugs, illegal immigrants…what else? God forbid they had gone w/ the drug option, imagine the outcry. They went w/ the other 2, illegal immigrant prostitutes. Add UNDERAGE to it and they had the hat trick.

I’ve seen James + Hannah interviewed where they’ve said that they wanted to be outrageous and over the top to see how far they could push it w/o drawing suspicion. So these 2 goofballs, in their early 20s, dressed up like caricatures of what a pimp and prostitute would look like in a cheesy movie and did what they did and somehow it worked. Not bad for first timers. The end. Conspiracy solved. You’re welcome.
http://www.facebook.com/people/John-Boyer/602168764 John Boyer

“I’ve seen James + Hannah interviewed where they’ve said that they wanted to be outrageous and over the top to see how far they could push it w/o drawing suspicion. So these 2 goofballs, in their early 20s, dressed up like caricatures of what a pimp and prostitute would look like in a cheesy movie and did what they did and somehow it worked. Not bad for first timers. The end. Conspiracy solved. You’re welcome.”

Nah. It’s probably dictated by racism. Which only liberals seem able to detect.
http://www.facebook.com/people/John-Boyer/602168764 John Boyer

Although I do agree with Tommy insofar as Breitbart could easily have said “The costumes weren’t racist and it’s silly to suggest they were. In all these cases, racism is in the eye of the accuser.”
http://www.sailrabbits.com Magister

It looks to me that Tommy asked a question and after flailing around for some kind of answer, Breitbart accused him of having an agenda, then he seems to argue that those charged with navel-gazing at the art of journalism should reinvent themselves as investigative journalists and somewhere in the mix, he chides “it worked”, which sort of reveals that him and O’Keefe had a political agenda.
the visionary

“We got him. We got him.” – Mediaite White House reporter Tommy Christopher to a few people just after badgering Andrew Breitbart with a race-baiting question.

http://bigjournalism.com/jjmnolte/2010/02/23/salon-mediaite-and-the-lefts-cowardly-practice-of-journalistic-rendition/
Haimerej

Gotta say I’m disappointed in Breitbart’s response.

The obvious answer is that the people making the accusation of “racism” based on O’Keefe’s pimp outfit are the racists. They’re the ones making the implication that a pimp outfit = a black outfit.
corvin81

Hi there it´s just i do absolutely love your original article, I wuold feel very special if you would want me to post a blog review on your incredible wordpress blog in my Website would you grant me permission to?

Best wishes, John Peds
Author of how to cook salmon
jennielynsan

This is 1 of the best blogs in the field of education. If I don’t come in for a couple of days, there are so many stakes that it’ll demand me a couple of hrs just to go all over whatever I omitted!! Extolment.

Thanks. some great infos(informations) here keep up Culinary Skills Egg Salad Recipe French Onion Soup Recipe the versatile worked. I cannot truly lead a more creative commentary as i’m abit out of my deph but i will be checking back here for further updates.