'Daily' struggle: will the WGA go after Jon Stewart?(Inside Moves: a monthly compendium of studio politics, power players and pampered celebrities)(Writers Guild of America West criticizes Comedy Central for being non-union)(Brief Article)

Is "The Daily Show With Jon Stewart," with its staff of more than a dozen Emmy-winning scribes and its progressive, presumably labor-friendly bent, guilty of exploitation?

Last month Patric Verrone, the recently elected Writers Guild of America West president and former staff writer for "The Simpsons," had some strong words for the show. During an interview with journalist Sue Pascoe, Verrone remarked, "This is a show that is supposed to tell the truth about the power structure, the conglomerates. Yet Comedy Central is non-union, and (Jon) Stewart's writing staff is also non-union." The comments were in line with Verrone's campaign pledge to scrutinize cable networks, …