Mike Huckabee supports writers, crosses picket lines

This is a shock. No, seriously; it is. Most Republicans tend to be anti-union. Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee isn't one of them.
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Huckabee Could Cross Writers for Leno
By LIBBY QUAID – 4 hours ago

MASON CITY, Iowa (AP) — Republican Mike Huckabee, a presidential candidate sounding a populist theme in Iowa, likely will be forced to cross a writers' picket line if he appears Wednesday on the "Tonight Show" with Jay Leno.

Earlier Wednesday, Huckabee said he supports the writers and did not think he would be crossing a picket line, because he believed the writers had made an agreement to allow late night shows back on the air.

"My understanding is that there was a special arrangement made for the late-night shows, and the writers have made this agreement to let the late night shows to come back on, so I don't anticipate that it's crossing a picket line," Huckabee told reporters traveling with him Wednesday from Fort Dodge to Mason City.

In fact, that is true only of David Letterman, who has a separate agreement with writers for his "Late Show."

Told he was mistaken and that writers had cleared only Letterman's show, Huckabee protested: "But my understanding is there's a sort of dispensation given to the late-night shows, is that right?"

Told again that he was wrong, Huckabee murmured, "Hmmm," and, "Oh," before answering another question.

A spokesperson for Leno, said Huckabee's plans haven't changed.

"Huckabee is still booked for tonight," said Tracy St. Pierre.

If so, the former Arkansas governor appeared headed for an unfriendly reception.

A picketer outside of the Burbank, Calif., studio where Leno tapes his show held a sign saying, "Huckabee is a scab." Another picketer carried a sign saying, "Huckabee, what would Jesus do?"

"I think it's just another reason not to vote for him," said Allan Katz, a veteran TV writer who was picketing.

Huckabee said he stood with the writers.

"I support the writers, by the way. Unequivocally, absolutely," he said. "They're dead right on this one. And they ought to get royalties off the residuals and the long-term contracts."

"I don't think anybody supports the producers on this one," he added. "Maybe the producers support the producers, but I think everybody in the business and even the general public supports the writers."