During Tuesday's segment of the new Bloomberg TV show, "With All Due Respect," hosts Mark Halperin and John Heilemann were getting whimsical with their guest, Obama press secretary Josh Earnest.

Heilemann asked Earnest to name "who’s the consistently most delightful reporter in the White House Press Corps this year," Earnest replied “That would tarnish their reputation forever if we identified that person!” Then he said, "I’ve got to choose somebody I don't like, so I don't harm them."

Earnest then named Jonathan Karl, ABC News' chief White House correspondent, who's well-known for grilling the press secretary – even if ABC routinely "forgets" to put them on their own programs.

“Jon Karl is consistently the nicest, friendliest, most direct guy, down-to-earth, friendliest individual you’d ever want to meet,” Earnest said. The viewer should see that as exactly the opposite of what Earnest meant.

Heilemann wondered if Jay Carney gave Earnest any advice in “how to subdue Jon Karl.” ABC seems to do that every time they ignore his confrontations.