NBC Breitbart Obit: He Called Ted Kennedy a 'Villain,' Was 'Controversial to the End'

In a report for Thursday's NBC Nightly News, correspondent Andrea Mitchell referred to Andrew Breitbart as "the shooting star of the conservative blogosphere" and contemptuously remarked: "Breitbart, who called Senator Ted Kennedy a villain and worse when he died, called himself an 'accidental cultural warrior.'"

The segment included this sound bite from the late writer and publisher: "The media says 'Breitbart lies, Breitbart lies, Breitbart lies, Breitbart lies.' Give me one example of a provable lie. One." Mitchell couldn't resist answering the challenge: "One prominent Breitbart target, Agriculture Department employee Shirley Sherrod, fired unfairly after Breitbart posted edited video, making it appear she had opposed aiding a white farmer. In fact, she was using the incident as a lesson in racial healing."

NewsBusters Executive Editor Matt Sheffield has gone into detail discrediting [1] that inaccurate media meme.

Mitchell concluded her piece: "Andrew Breitbart was passionate, fearless and controversial to the end."

Here is a full transcript of the March 1 report:

7:12PM ET

BRIAN WILLIAMS: Andrew Breitbart died overnight in southern California. He collapsed while out for a walk. The first time a lot of Americans ever saw that surname was on the web. When searching an article, it would often direct us to a place called "Breitbart." But that was just the start of what became an aggressive media empire of sorts. Tonight, NBC's Andrea Mitchell has a look back at its namesake.

ANDREA MITCHELL: Andrew Breitbart was the shooting star of the conservative blogosphere, a one-time entertainment writer who worked for both Arianna Huffington and Matt Drudge. Only two nights ago, he was analyzing the Michigan results.

ANDREW BREITBART: I would argue that he missed an opportunity.

MITCHELL: Today, he was mourned by the Republican candidates.

RICK SANTORUM: It's a big shock. What a powerful force.

MITCHELL: Mitt Romney tweeted that he and his wife were, "Deeply saddened by the passing of a brilliant entrepreneur, fearless conservative, loving husband and father."

Breitbart, who called Senator Ted Kennedy a villain and worse when he died, called himself an "accidental cultural warrior." Most memorably, exposing Anthony Weiner and grabbing the stage before the Congressman could resign.

BREITBART: The media says "Breitbart lies, Breitbart lies, Breitbart lies, Breitbart lies." Give me one example of a provable lie. One.

MITCHELL: One prominent Breitbart target, Agriculture Department employee Shirley Sherrod, fired unfairly after Breitbart posted edited video, making it appear she had opposed aiding a white farmer. In fact, she was using the incident as a lesson in racial healing.

SHIRLEY SHERROD: They called me a racist, of all people. They called me a racist.

MITCHELL: Today, Sherrod said her prayers go out to the Breitbart family. Three years ago, Breitbart helped expose community activists in ACORN by posting undercover videos staged by other conservative activists. Andrew Breitbart was passionate, fearless and controversial to the end. At the young age of only 43, he leaves a wife and four children. Andrea Mitchell, NBC News, Washington.

-- Kyle Drennen is a news analyst at the Media Research Center. Click here [2] to follow Kyle Drennen on Twitter.