it was pretty much the only way to get out their scripted, spoon-fed questions.
It's a lot like political jeopardy, you have the answer in mind and the reporter provides the question...
Unfortunately, Uncle Joe (he's a movin' kinda slow) cannot remember the answers
so he picks the reporters that can clue him in with their leading questions...
"Mr. President, how successful are you in Afghanistan?"
"I've told by my staff that that answer is very..."
