As Minnesota Democratic Senator Al Franken appeared as a guest on Wednesday's New Day to plug his book, Al Franken, Giant of the Senate, CNN co-host Alisyn Camerota and other CNN staff off screen were inspired to laugh out loud at the liberal Senator joking about hating Republican Senator Ted Cruz.
After the two discussed that Franken's staff are under orders to talk the retired comedian out of making jokes at inappropriate times, Camerota began reading from his book about his negative views of the Texas Republican. Camerota:
You have another one here where you're talking about Ted Cruz. I'll read this portion: "The problem with Ted is simply that he is an absolutely toxic coworker. He's the guy in your office who snitches to corporate about your March Madness pool and microwaves fish in the office kitchen. He is the Dwight Schrute of the Senate."
The CNN host read a response from Senator Cruz:
He has just responded. He says: "Al is trying to sell books, and apparently he's decided that being obnoxious and insulting me is good for causing liberals to buy his books."
Franken then made his joke about hating Senator Cruz as he responded:
Well, he may be right about that, but, no, the whole point of this chapter -- I make an exception with Ted. In this, I say the thing you should know about Ted Cruz is I probably like Ted Cruz more than most of my colleagues like Ted Cruz -- and I hate Ted Cruz.
Camerota laughed, and other laughing could be heard off screen.
The Minnesota Democrat added:
And I make an exception with him because he is a toxic coworker, and to get anything done in the Senate, you've got to be collegial. You're a small town of a hundred people. Ted doesn't get anything done. The only thing he -- the big accomplishment was shutting down the government. And so I do talk a lot about the Republicans that I am friends with...
