Ted Cruz Is Senate's Master of Impressions - From Churchill to Dr. Seuss

The Texas Republican is well-known for his theatrics on the Senate floor.

ByABC News
September 10, 2014, 3:45 PM
Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, speaks during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Sept. 9, 2014.
Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, speaks during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Sept. 9, 2014.
J. Scott Applewhite/AP Photo

— -- Sen. Ted Cruz puts the theater in political theater. Well-known for impersonating Darth Vader and reading "Green Eggs and Ham" during a 21-hour filibuster last year, the Texas Republican revealed his latest impression on the Senate floor on Tuesday.

While arguing against a Democrat-backed campaign finance amendment, Cruz brought up his love for "Saturday Night Live" and the variety show's political impressions -- particularly Dana Carvey's impression of President George H.W. Bush.

"'Saturday Night Live' over the years has had some of the most tremendous political satire," Cruz said. "Who can forget portrayals of Dana Carvey's George Herbert Walker Bush -- 'Not gonna do it!'"

Cruz argued that the constitutional amendment proposed by Sen. Tom Udall, D-New Mexico, would limit free speech and give Congress the power to make political satire "a criminal offense."

"['SNL's' creator] Lorne Michaels could be put in jail under this amendment for making fun of any politician," Cruz said.

Cruz has also done impressions of comedian Jay Leno and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill. See more of his theatrical antics below.

Update: 4:49PM An earlier version of this post said the campaign finance amendment Sen. Cruz was speaking against was proposed by Sen. Mark Udall, D-Colorado. It was proposed by his cousin, Sen. Tom Udall, D-New Mexico.