Focus Films Putting the Cap on Milk?

I have to assume that the average person's first response to reading the article about Focus cutting publicity for Milk, the film about the first openly gay politician to win an election, is that they are trying to shut the film down. That was my response when I came across the article this week (embedded in a discussion about early Oscar favorites) but then again,what can Focus possibly gain from such an effort? They had to have approved the film, with its gay director, plot and controversial star, before funding it; it would be illogical for them to have a turn of heart and try to keep the film under wraps.

Obviously, no matter how unlikely and idiotic financially, it is is a possibility we cannot rule out. Brokeback Mountain was an extremely controversial and this film was likely in the making for more than two years, far before Proposition 8 passed (Milk deals with Proposition 6, in addition to Harvey Milks run for office, and the comparisons can be made). While I, after thinking about the issue, do not believe that Focus is trying to shut down a film that will likely profit them, I think they are creating an interesting experience. We all know how many times we've walked into a film with expectations and been utterly disappointed and then seen films that we expect to be bad and walk out indifferent or in good spirits.

Maybe Focus is onto something and can set a new standard in the industry for letting the film do the talking. Then again, maybe not.