Bill Maher says Ted Cruz is like Miley Cyrus: 'A filibuster is the political version of twerking'

Rather than compare him to other politicians, Real Time host Bill Maher likened Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) to another headline-grabbing personality on Friday -- pop singer Miley Cyrus.

"He is not afraid to incur the wrath of even some his fans for the greater good of drawing attention to himself," Maher explained to his panelists. "I really think that a filibuster is the political version of twerking."

Maher also argued that like Cyrus -- who, rather than fade away, ended up with a Rolling Stone cover story after her infamous MTV performance with Robin Thicke -- Cruz "is gonna be the winner, too."

But Reason magazine Editor-In-Chief Matt Welch disagreed, comparing Cruz's 21-hour "filibuster" against the Affordable Care Act to "a hit off [of] a crack pipe."

"He's gonna be popular for a couple of days here, but it's not really a long-term performance enhancing plan here," Welch told Maher.

By comparison, Welch said, Sen. Rand Paul's (R-KY) actual March 2013 filibuster was more of a success, since it won him support from not only conservatives, but progressives like CNN host Van Jones.

"Van Jones does not vote in the Republican primary," Maher retorted.

"This is true," Welch answered. "But, Rand Paul recognizes that Republicans will never win another election unless they expand the party and choose issues that Democrats aren't very good at."

"That's the general election," Maher countered. "To get there, what do you have to do?"

Fellow panelist Entrepreneurial Magazine columnist Monica Mehta argued that it's unclear whether the Tea Party which elected Cruz and Paul will want to stay with the Republicans, citing resentment to what members see as widespread spending.

"They associate the [George W.] Bush years with big spending as well," Mehta told Maher. "I think the Republicans tried to draw them in, but Ted Cruz is coming out trying to be a leader because they're seeking a leader. They feel very disenfranchised."

Watch the discussion, posted on YouTube on Friday by user "JustFunNews," below.