On Wednesday’s Countdown show, MSNBC host Keith Olbermann crossed a line that political commentators and other partisan public figures normally do not traverse as they criticize political figures with whom they disagree -- he engaged in name-calling against the average voters who elected his political targets. During the show's regular "Worst Person in the World" segment, Olbermann referred to voters as "idiots" and "buffoons" who voted into office two Republican legislators – Congressman Randy Neugebauer of Texas and State Representative Cynthia Davis of Missouri, whom he also called an "inhuman monster" for expressing her views in opposition to government welfare.

Because Neugebauer -- who is co-sponsoring a bill requiring future Presidents to present a birth certificate to prove legal U.S. citizenship -- answered with uncertainty when he was asked whether he believes President Obama is a U.S. citizen, Olbermann recounted the Congressman's response and snapped: "The people who elected you are obviously idiots. That does not mean everybody else is."

And, attacking the Missouri state legislator for the second day in a row for her comments in opposition to a government-funded meals plan for children, Olbermann charged of State Representative Davis: "Your goal here is to try to take an efficient program, providing needy kids millions of healthy meals at about two and a half bucks each, and turn it into another wedge weapon of paranoia to use on the buffoons who would vote for a political hack like yourself."

The MSNBC host ended up calling Davis an "inhuman monster." After quoting Davis as saying, "Yet to dare suggest there are alternatives for rational people to discuss and consequences of government taking over so much in people`s lives is to be branded an inhuman monster," Olbermann concluded:

Hey, on this we agree. Well phrased. You`re right. You`re an inhuman monster. And you chair the state`s Permanent Committee for Children? You`re a positive menace to the health and well being of the children of Missouri. Resign, State Representative Cynthia Davis of Missouri, once again, today`s "Worst Person in the World," and not for the last time.

Below is a transcript of relevant portions of the Wednesday, June 24, Countdown show on MSNBC:

KEITH OLBERMANN: That`s next, but first, time for Countdown`s number two story, tonight`s "Worst Persons in the World." The bronze to Congressman Randy Neugebauer, Republican extremist of Texas. He has signed on as one of the five, count them five, co-sponsors of Florida loon Bill Posey`s bill that would require birth certificates from presidential candidates. After he insisted on radio yesterday that the bill wouldn`t apply to the Obama election, because it wouldn`t be retroactive, Neugebauer was also asked, so you believe the President is a U.S. citizen? His answer, quote, "You know, I don`t know. I`ve never seen him produce documents that would say one way or the other."

Once again, World Net Daily, August 23, 2008, Drew Zaun, quote, "a separate WND investigation into Obama`s birth certificate, utilizing forgery experts, also found the document to be authentic." Read it, Congressman, if you know how to read. Also, the people who elected you are obviously idiots. That does not mean everybody else is. The bill wouldn`t apply to Obama? You do realize that he is likely to run again in 2012, right?

...

But the winner, State Representative Cynthia Davis of Missouri. When she first won this award, hands down, on Monday, we told you that Ms. Davis had attacked a series of what she called commentaries to report on the state`s meal program for under-privileged kids while school was out for summer, insisting these meals should be curtailed. Among her original observations, "anyone under 18 can be eligible? Can`t they get a job during the summer by the time they`re 16? Hunger can be a positive motivator. What is wrong with the idea of getting a job so you can get better meals. Tip -- if you work for McDonald`s, they will feed you for free during your break."

Representative Davis has not apologized for, retracted, nor clarified her remarks. She has blamed an editorial that misrepresented my views, even though her views were in her editorials, which she wrote. She continues to believe that one-fifth of school aged children in Missouri who face hunger every day have somehow chosen to do that, that this is a family rights issue. Quote, "we all agree on the importance of feeding children, but we differ on who should do this. I believe this duty belongs to the parents. Instead of respecting this time honored jurisdiction of the family, the summer feeding program treats families like they do not exist."

You`re wrong. It treats families like they don`t have enough money to get meals for their kids, and they need our help. "When government takes over a family function like feeding children on a daily basis, we take a group of people who are capable and treat them like they are incapacitated. Look into your own heart and ask, what made a difference in my life as a child? Was it standing in a line for a cafeteria style meal at school or was it sitting around the kitchen table with others in your family?"

You`re wrong. Gosh, Ms. Davis, I think more than either of these things, what would have made a difference in my life as a child was if one day there was no breakfast, and some idiot politician was trying to make sure I couldn`t get one. And cafeteria style meal at school? You`re wrong. Missouri`s summer meals are given out in churches. Your own state and you don`t even know the simple facts?

"My goal is not to replace parents, but to reinforce them. The solution is found in helping those near us, not in yet another gigantic, federally funded, mass market approach. Bigger government invites fraud and robs people of the dignity of personal human relationships."

You`re wrong. Your goal here is to try to take an efficient program, providing needy kids millions of healthy meals at about two and a half bucks each, and turn it into another wedge weapon of paranoia to use on the buffoons who would vote for a political hack like yourself.

"My weekly Capitol Report is a way to have two way communications with my constituents, and not a national manifesto for you to mock, distort, and be quoted out of context."

You`re wrong. There was no distortion, no loss of context and any mocking done here you have richly earned for today, for tomorrow, and for the rest of your tenure in public life, brief though the rest of us hope that might be.

"Yet to dare suggest there are alternatives for rational people to discuss and consequences of government taking over so much in people`s lives is to be branded an inhuman monster."

Hey, on this we agree. Well phrased. You`re right. You`re an inhuman monster. And you chair the state`s Permanent Committee for Children? You`re a positive menace to the health and well being of the children of Missouri. Resign, State Representative Cynthia Davis of Missouri, once again, today`s "Worst Person in the World," and not for the last time.

—Brad Wilmouth is a news analyst at the Media Research Center.