And another one: Andrew Breitbart, 43

Shocking news this morning as Andrew Breitbart, controversial conservative blogger and activist, was announced dead of natural causes. He was 43.

Actually, to call him controversial is, for many, a diplomatic understatement. Some saw him as a pariah; he did unfairly cost some people their jobs and, to further his agenda, did not show many qualms about tactics such as editing video and removing context.

In other words, he was in politics.

But he should, despite all this, also be recognized for standing up to the bigoted wing of the GOP in welcoming homosexuals into the party. He hosted GOProud in the CPAC 2010 conference despite the protestations of many groups and served on its advisory board. On that and a handful of other issues he’ll be seen as being on the right side of history.

No man is without his shortcomings. Breitbart’s didn’t come intellectually; he was cunning, clever, and biting. Rather, it was in areas like restraint, shame, and dignity where Breitbart often fell tragically and frustratingly short. He was a complicated individual whose transgressions were often confused or veiled with his passion and beliefs.  He was ultimately a dedicated and charismatic, but also troubling, figure.

I often roll my eyes at the undeserved posthumous praise one gives to public figures, especially when it’s insincere and ascribes personality traits, charm, and accomplishments to the individual that were wholly undeserved. I can’t and won’t excuse some of the campaigns he engaged in, including but not limited to the awful and ridiculous campaign against Shirley Sherrod that rightfully got him slapped with a defamation lawsuit.  Yet I think Breitbart, to his credit, never claimed to be anything he wasn’t, even when he was tripping over his own language to try to justify what he did.

I can’t say I hated the man, and I’m a bit troubled by the reaction of some to his passing. Media Matters among others that were his most frequent and passionate critics have stayed above that fray, and even expressed a bit of genuine sadness at his passing. That must mean something.