In this morning's special "Situation Room" covering General Michael Hayden's confirmation hearings for his appointment as CIA Director, CNN national security correspondent David Ensor said that Hayden could expect questions "about really the most fundamental point for a top intelligence officer. This one, who's been so loyal to the president, when the chips are down and the intelligence doesn't fit what the president wants it to fit, will he speak truth to power?"
Speak truth to power? That vague, usually meaningless catchphrase is a favorite of many liberals. Dan Rather speaks truth to power. Cynthia McKinney speaks truth to power. John Kerry speaks truth to power. And now CNN national security correspondent David Ensor anticipated questions about speaking truth to power.
By golly, he was right. Intelligence committee member Senator Carl Levin (D-MI) in his opening remarks said, "One major question for me is whether General Hayden will restore analytical independence and objectivity at the CIA and speak truth to power. . . "
Much of the Left has operated on a bumper sticker mentality for a very long time. References to speaking truth to power will grow tiresome and need to be replaced with different catchphrases.
So what can we expect next? Questions to General Hayden if he intends to "tell it like it is?" Requests for assurances that he believes in "power to the people?" Asking him if he will put a "War is bad for children and other living things" sticker on his tank?
Regardless, we can be certain that CNN's reporting will be on the cutting edge, speaking truth to power.
