Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Huckabee trades jokes with Leno; Clinton appears on Letterman
AP on Bakersfield Californian ^ | 1/2/08 | AP

Posted on 01/02/2008 8:38:10 PM PST by NormsRevenge

Republican presidential hopeful Mike Huckabee traded jokes with Jay Leno and played bass guitar with the "Tonight Show" band on Wednesday, the eve of the Iowa caucuses he hopes to win.

Democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton also made a cameo appearance on David Letterman's "Late Show" as the funnymen returned to work for the first time since their writers went on strike two months go.

The visits broke some of the tension surrounding the nominating contests that begin Thursday with the Iowa caucuses. Clinton and Huckabee are in tight races, she with Illinois Sen. Barack Obama and he with former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney.

Huckabee told stories about his hardscrabble upbringing, including that it took his parents a year to pay for a $99 guitar they bought him for Christmas in 1966.

"It was a big sacrifice for them, but I played that guitar until my fingers nearly bled, and until their ears nearly bled," he said. "And they said, 'Son, why don't you become a minister?'"

He went on to become a Baptist minister, then was elected Arkansas governor.

Clinton opened Letterman's show with a taped greeting: "Dave has been off the air for eight long weeks because of the writers strike. Tonight, he's back. Oh, well, all good things come to an end," she said.

Huckabee had to cross a picket line to appear on Leno's show, despite earlier saying he supported the writers. Picket signs read, "Huckabee is a scab," and, "Huckabee, what would Jesus do?"

Campaigning earlier Wednesday in Iowa, Huckabee said he believed the writers had agreed to allow late-night shows on the air. But only Letterman and fellow CBS host Craig Ferguson struck deals allowing writers to come back to work. Corrected, Huckabee murmured, "Hmmm," and, "Oh."

The writers guild urged him not to cross their picket line after he flew out to California. "Huckabee claims he didn't know," chief union negotiator John Bowman said. "I don't know what that means in terms of trusting him as a future president."


TOPICS: News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: clinton; elections; huckabee; leno; letterman
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081 next last
To: PureSolace

Huck just said Romney spent 8-9 million in Iowa, also “McCain is a great American hero”,and “maybe he should give Romney a shower”.


21 posted on 01/02/2008 9:13:14 PM PST by libbylu (Mitt vetoed illegal driver license and instate tuition...that is all i need to know.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: CharlesWayneCT

Huckabee looked pretty funny in his “double wide” coat in front of the double wide trailer.


22 posted on 01/02/2008 9:20:26 PM PST by AmericanMade1776
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: Schwaeky
99 bucks in 66 could probably get you a Les Paul...

From FlyingVintage.com:

Checking out Gibson's 1959 Price List, the Les Paul Custom guitar was priced at $395.00, plus $47.50 for a Faultless case. Next in line is the now famous Les Paul Sunburst Model at $265.00, plus $42.50 for the case.

So in 1966 dollars, the Husckster certainly didn't get a Les Paul, but he didn't get some cheapy starter either.

23 posted on 01/02/2008 9:22:21 PM PST by Henchster (Free Republic - the BEST site on the web!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

To: NormsRevenge
“Huckabee told stories about his hardscrabble upbringing, including that it took his parents a year to pay for a $99 guitar they bought him for Christmas in 1966.
“It was a big sacrifice for them, but I played that guitar until my fingers nearly bled, and until their ears nearly bled,” he said. “And they said, ‘Son, why don’t you become a minister?’”

RIGHTTTTT. Bet He got a military deferment to go to “preacher” college. I got to spend Christmas in a “Fukkkkkkkkinnnnnnnnnnn M60” Tank. He is a bible toadding piece of rat rectum.

24 posted on 01/02/2008 9:25:24 PM PST by primatreat ( Hold political and scientific idiots responsible by taking there money and glory away!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: libbylu

I’ll give the Huckster credit. When it comes to fooling the regular folks and appearing genuine and funny, he is great. He is good. Really good.

Almost as good as me....Almost.


25 posted on 01/02/2008 9:26:56 PM PST by Eric Blair 2084 (Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms shouldn't be a federal agency...it should be a convenience store.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: AmericanMade1776

What a coup it was getting on the show, even with the writers’ strike! And Leno was obviously solidly in his corner. Everything was softball. Should easily be worth a few percentage points tomorrow.


26 posted on 01/02/2008 9:28:41 PM PST by Norseman
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies]

To: Eric Blair 2084

All I could think about watching it was how it was *identical* to the Clinton visit where Clinton blew the sax! Let’s see “aw shucks” routine from Arkansas - Check - Musical performance - Check. Grovelling by host - Check.

Looks like Jays’ trying to put the fix in.

I, for one, ani’t that dumb!


27 posted on 01/02/2008 9:33:00 PM PST by BereanBrain
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 25 | View Replies]

To: BereanBrain

You must be older than me. I was blissfully ignorant when that took place. But I could picture it.


28 posted on 01/02/2008 9:36:55 PM PST by Eric Blair 2084 (Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms shouldn't be a federal agency...it should be a convenience store.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 27 | View Replies]

To: CharlesWayneCT

Leno has been paying his writers out of his own pocket since December.


29 posted on 01/02/2008 9:41:06 PM PST by Tlaloc
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: chadwimc

>>So, Clinton is a strike breaker???<<

No. Letterman has a private agreement with the writers’ union. Leno does not.


30 posted on 01/02/2008 9:41:32 PM PST by ding_dong_daddy_from_dumas (I want to "Buy American" but the only things for sale made in the USA are politicians)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: kingu

>>What kind of guitar ran $99 bucks in 1966? And why would you spend that much for a kid?<<

According to Huck, his 1966 guitar included an amp and speaker, so the $99 does not sound unreasonable.


31 posted on 01/02/2008 9:44:56 PM PST by ding_dong_daddy_from_dumas (I want to "Buy American" but the only things for sale made in the USA are politicians)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: NormsRevenge

Oh Iowa... Please don’t fall for the Huckster. He’s very appealing, but he’s also a Huckster..The Huckster.

You know I will give him one thing... Out of all them running for President - He’s my favorite Democrat.

Too bad I don’t vote for Democrats.


32 posted on 01/02/2008 9:45:19 PM PST by ExcellenceInAmericacom (Excellence In America: Fred Thompson!!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: NormsRevenge

Huckabuck also said that he is in favor of scrapping the IRS. In favor of a twenty three percent retail tax. That sounded good until he said then even DRUG DEALERS, PROSTITUTES, AND PIMPS would be paying taxes on all their retail purchases gas,food,cars,etc. And those below the poverty line would have tax rebates so in effect they would pay no tax. Well Huckabuck I have a question for you how many DRUG DEALERS, PROSTITUTES, AND PIMPS do you know who report their income. So I guess they are all showing up at the poverty level and getting tax rebates. A nice reward for making a secret unreported living. Think Huckabuck use your brain are you really that dumb.


33 posted on 01/02/2008 9:48:49 PM PST by cquiggy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: NormsRevenge

The Huckster can’t even go on a silly talk show without creating controversy. Now I know why Rudy is laying low. He wants somebody else to be on point, and be the media punching bag for awhile.


34 posted on 01/02/2008 9:48:56 PM PST by HisKingdomWillAbolishSinDeath (Christ's Kingdom on Earth is the answer. What is your question?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: primatreat
RIGHTTTTT. Bet He got a military deferment to go to “preacher” college. I got to spend Christmas in a “F****n (word deleted for this reply) M60” Tank. He is a bible toadding piece of rat rectum.

Why don't you tell us how you really feel? So much for standards in our etiquet. I think your pills are in the cupboard next to the Jack Daniels.

35 posted on 01/02/2008 9:53:23 PM PST by MichiganWoodsman
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 24 | View Replies]

To: cquiggy

“Well Huckabuck I have a question for you how many DRUG DEALERS, PROSTITUTES, AND PIMPS do you know who report their income?”

And that’s exactly his point. They don’t report their incomes so we see no tax on their activities. But under the fair tax, they will pay taxes every time they purchase something with their “hard-earned” labors. Bag of chips, pay the tax; new house, pay the tax; Alaskan cruise, pay the tax.

I haven’t made up my mind on the fair tax yet, but your criticism doesn’t apply, at least as far as their INCOME goes. On the other hand, technically the drug dealer is supposed to charge the fair tax too, and send it in to the government. That’s going to be a bit of a challenge, I suspect.


36 posted on 01/02/2008 10:00:14 PM PST by Norseman
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 33 | View Replies]

To: Tlaloc

But since there is no agreement with the union, wouldn’t those writers be scabs? And wouldn’t Leno be a strike-breaker, paying scabs to work on his show?


37 posted on 01/02/2008 10:03:04 PM PST by CharlesWayneCT
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 29 | View Replies]

To: NormsRevenge
Huckabee had to cross a picket line to appear on Leno's show.......


38 posted on 01/02/2008 10:05:30 PM PST by hole_n_one
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Norseman

You seem to have forgotten your man Huckleberry will be rewarding them with poverty level tax rebates. Duh.


39 posted on 01/02/2008 10:07:03 PM PST by cquiggy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 36 | View Replies]

To: kingu

Good grief. Most middle class kids who got instruments in that time had parents who took a year to pay for them. He makes it sound like he was dirt poor.


40 posted on 01/02/2008 10:09:55 PM PST by keepitreal
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson