Schwarzenegger’s Campaign Uses Tom Cruise’s Name in Vain
Either Todd Harris, Arnold Schwarzenegger’s campaign spokesman, tried to get a little too much mileage out of his Tom Cruise sound bite or some news organizations are playing a little loose with what constitutes a direct quote. (I use bold to indicate the dates the quotes ran and the subtle differences between them).
The Sacramento Bee was the first with Harris’ Cruise quote and ran it on June 29th:
“I am paying about as much attention to these poll numbers as I am to Tom Cruise’s lectures about religion, which is to say none,” campaign adviser Todd Harris said.
On our about July 1st, by ABC’s Sacramento affiliate reported on their website:
“In fact I’m paying as much attention to these poll numbers as I am to Tom Cruise’s lectures on religion, which is to say, none at all,” Harris said.
[They did not credit the Sacramento Bee or anyone else.]
Then on July 11th, evidently thinking the Cruise quote was still fresh the LA Times quoted Harris this way:
“I have about as much interest in these [matchup] numbers as I do Tom Cruise’s views on religion,” says Schwarzenegger campaign spokesman Todd Harris…
While the meanings of all three are the same, the quotes are not identical. Also, it would appear that ABC’s Sacramento affiliate failed to attribute the Sacramento Bee. It’s either that or Mr. Harris needs to work on making his quotes appear more spontaneous & the Times on being a bit more timely, and you can paraphrase me on that!
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July 11th, 2005 at 10:51 pm
I found another version in the Shrewsbury Bugle-Gazette: “These poll numbers suck more than Rob Thomas when he’s in bed with Tom Cruise, which is to say, Free Katie!”