Why do they do this? Why does the WH release excerpts of the speech before its given?

[bluestateguy]

They did this shit under Bush and Clinton too.

[Frustratedlady]

1. Thank you for posting that question. I thought I was alone...

in wishing they wouldn't do that. I don't want the newscasters to release bits and pieces. Let Obama deliver the speech, fresh and only as he can do so.

[jannyk]

9. Definately not alone.

It's like being told the end of a really suspenseful movie as you sit down to watch it - crass and borish!

[egressingsparrowdrop]

2. to create hype, nt

[tekisui]

3. I just read the whole thing:

http://www.nationaljournal.com/whitehouse/exclusive-obama-to-declare-the-rules-have-changed--20110125

[Cirque du So-What]

4. It's like going to court

The defense & the prosecution must give each other a list of witnesses who will be called to testify in order that there won't be any nasty surprises. Actually, it's nothing like that, but it's what came to mind when I saw the question in the OP.

[uppityperson]

5. Perhaps so the media can get their questions ready for afterwards?

I mean, it would be so difficult for them to have to listen and then respond, right? (that last bit was sarcasm)

[pacalo]

6. I can see the Super Bowl-caliber hype approaching -- BofA, Citicorp, Pfizer, etc., signs

lining the congressional walls...

:silly:

[The Second Stone]

7. The reporters have to write and speak their stories

and this gives them the opportunity to phone it in on the portions the WH wants to focus on.

[Lint Head]

8. Why is there a response to the SOTU? It's not Constitutional and is a recent

phenomena.

[NYC Liberal]

11. Why isn't it Constitutional? It's been going on since Nixon

I believe.

[seabeyond]

10. because if they dont, it is all over the news misrepresented, misinterpreted and LIES.....

i imagine they feel they have to in order to get any kind of fairness in media