Off Beat: Wally's 'worst' week?

Was last week Wally Herger's "worst" week ever?

Good news: He was mentioned on national TV three times.

Bad news: He was mentioned on national TV three times.

That's what happens in the era of the Internet, when comments made in obscure places like Redding take on national significance.

And so your congressman became fodder for the folks at MSNBC, especially Keith Olbermann, who proclaimed Herger the "Worst Person in the World" twice. Herger's spokesman, Matt, Lavoie, was the "worst" once.

Monday night, Olbermann expressed some disgust at how Herger reacted to town hall participant Bert Stead, 67, who described himself, somewhat jokingly, as a "proud right-wing terrorist." Herger called him a "great American."

Olbermann's take, according to the transcript on lexis.com:

No, sir. That is not a great American. That is a man calling himself a right-wing terrorist. Even if he was being allegorical or hyperbolic, you're a U.S. congressman, damn it. You're bound by oath to uphold the Constitution. And if some buffoon in your audience describes himself with the word terrorist, you are, at minimum, required to remind him what that means and how many Americans have died at the hands of terrorists. And you have to tell him to shut the hell up until he can come close to living up to what you told everybody in that crowd when your little fascist rally started, they have to respect each other's opinions.

If you can't, Congressman Herger, you're not entitled to serve as Redding's dog catcher, let alone be in the House of Representatives. Congressman Wally "a right-wing terrorist is a great American" Herger, of the California 2nd, today's worst person in the world.

Lavoie responded in a press release and interviews defending his boss.

Olbermann's take:

When faced with this crap on the eve of last year's election, even Sen. McCain's conscience got the better of him and he reprimanded a woman spouting hate speech against McCain's rival. Congressman Herger and his spokesman need to do the same. Until they do, they're contributing to this climate of paranoia and violence enveloping our political system.

Until they say something, Congressman Herger and this spokesman are not defending the Constitution, they are threatening it. Matt Lavoie, the spokesman for Congressman Wally Herger, 2nd district of California, today's worst person in the world.

And on Thursday night, Olbermann played a video of the Redding town hall and read a statement from Herger's office which said the congressman "doesn't at all regret commending him for standing up, exercising his free speech rights, and expressing his strong concerns with the direction liberals in Washington are taking our country."

And Olbermann on Herger?

He is fomenting violence. If he will not speak out in favor of law and order in this country, he should resign his seat. Wally Herger, Congressman, California 2nd, today's worst person in the world.

Maybe this week will be better for your man in Washington.