美国国家公共电台 NPR--Many would-be presidential candidates will skip CPAC because it's mired in scandal

Many would-be presidential candidates will skip CPAC because it's mired¹ in scandal

Transcript²

The Conservative Political Action Conference or CPAC is taking place in Washington, D.C. Controversy³ inside the governing organization has some potential 2024 presidential contenders sitting it out.

STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:

CPAC, the Conservative Political Action Conference, begins today.

LEILA FADEL, HOST:

Yeah. It commonly draws thousands of activists⁴ in a year like this one, the year before a presidential election. It gives would-be presidential hopefuls a chance to make their case. But this year, the event is marred⁵ by scandal before it even begins.

INSKEEP: For starters, its leader has been accused of sexual misconduct. He has close ties to former President Trump⁶. NPR's senior political editor and correspondent Domenico Montanaro is here.

Domenico, good morning.

DOMENICO MONTANARO, BYLINE⁷: Good morning, Steve.

INSKEEP: OK. Who's at the center of all this?

MONTANARO: Well, we're talking about Matt Schlapp, who is chairman of the American Conservative Union, which runs CPAC, and Schlapp has been in charge of the event since 2014. It's changed significantly in that time. You know, Schlapp is responsible for expanding it to become really an international brand. But CPAC also in that time has embraced the far right, both here and abroad. That's largely because CPAC is like a conservative weather vane. You know, it turns on a hinge, depending on where the movement is and where it's going. And over the last several years, that's meant Trumpism. And Schlapp, who's married to Mercedes Schlapp, the former communications adviser⁸ in the Trump White House, has been something of a cheerleader for Trump.

INSKEEP: Well, what trouble does he face now?

MONTANARO: Well, the problems for Schlapp stem from a $9 million civil lawsuit⁹ that was filed in January by a former staffer on the Herschel Walker Senate campaign. The lawsuit accuses Schlapp of making, quote, "advances and unwanted and nonconsensual touching¹⁰ and fondling" in October of last year. The Washington Post yesterday had an extensive report on the culture and his conduct at CPAC. A former communications director alleged¹¹ that Schlapp fired her out of retaliation¹² because she complained about what she said were a coworker's sexist and racist¹³ comments.

The Post also reported that he was taking a $600,000 salary at CPAC, when in the past it's been a volunteer position mostly. And his wife was also receiving six figures for, quote, "strategic communications." The Post also reported that he was investigated for making an anti-gay remark while he was a senior staffer at Koch Industries, and Schlapp left the company shortly after an internal review.

INSKEEP: OK. You mentioned strategic communications. I'm imagining that the CPAC organization needs a little strategic communication now that their head is in such trouble. So how are they responding?

MONTANARO: Well, you know, they're largely defending Schlapp. Carolyn Meadows, who's second vice¹⁴ chair at CPAC, said that under Schlapp's leadership, quote, "CPAC has grown into a professionalized organization focused on bolstering¹⁵ grassroots conservative activism" and "impacting policy," focusing on "prioritizing individual liberty in America and around the world" - nothing there about the specific allegations. A board member did tell The Post, though, that they will be meeting about them. Former President Trump, though, for his part, so far stood by Schlapp, literally¹⁶ on stage with him days after the lawsuit was filed.

INSKEEP: I guess there are still going to be thousands of activists who show up for this thing.

MONTANARO: Yeah. You know, this - they have had a drop in ticket sales this year - you know, some prominent Republican names choosing not to attend, like Trump rival Ron DeSantis - potential rival, if he runs - the Florida governor, who may be gearing up for a 2024 presidential run. Mostly, I want to see if this is going to still be the Trump show, or is there a desire for something else? In addition to Trump, the other two officially declared GOP candidates - Nikki Haley, the former South Carolina governor, as well as tech and finance CEO Vivek Ramaswamy - will be speaking. But how are they all received? You know, does someone like DeSantis do well at the straw poll even though he's not there? This is really going to be all questions I have at the event - as this event has changed over the years.

INSKEEP: NPR's Domenico Montanaro.

Thanks as always.

MONTANARO: You're so welcome.

1 mired   

abbr.microreciprocal degree 迈尔德（色温单位）v.深陷( mire的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The country was mired in recession. 这个国家陷入了经济衰退的困境。
• The most brilliant leadership can be mired in detail. 最有才干的领导也会陷于拘泥琐事的困境中。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

2 transcript   

n.抄本，誊本，副本，肄业证书

参考例句：

• A transcript of the tapes was presented as evidence in court.一份录音带的文字本作为证据被呈交法庭。
• They wouldn't let me have a transcript of the interview.他们拒绝给我一份采访的文字整理稿。

3 controversy   

n.争论，辩论，争吵

参考例句：

• That is a fact beyond controversy.那是一个无可争论的事实。
• We ran the risk of becoming the butt of every controversy.我们要冒使自己在所有的纷争中都成为众矢之的的风险。

4 activists   

n.（政治活动的）积极分子，活动家( activist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His research work was attacked by animal rights activists . 他的研究受到了动物权益维护者的抨击。
• Party activists with lower middle class pedigrees are numerous. 党的激进分子中有很多出身于中产阶级下层。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 marred   

adj. 被损毁, 污损的

参考例句：

• The game was marred by the behaviour of drunken fans. 喝醉了的球迷行为不轨，把比赛给搅了。
• Bad diction marred the effectiveness of his speech. 措词不当影响了他演说的效果。

6 trump   

n.王牌，法宝；v.打出王牌，吹喇叭

参考例句：

• He was never able to trump up the courage to have a showdown.他始终鼓不起勇气摊牌。
• The coach saved his star player for a trump card.教练保留他的明星选手，作为他的王牌。

7 byline   

n.署名；v.署名

参考例句：

• His byline was absent as well.他的署名也不见了。
• We wish to thank the author of this article which carries no byline.我们要感谢这篇文章的那位没有署名的作者。

8 adviser   

n.劝告者，顾问

参考例句：

• They employed me as an adviser.他们聘请我当顾问。
• Our department has engaged a foreign teacher as phonetic adviser.我们系已经聘请了一位外籍老师作为语音顾问。

9 lawsuit   

n.诉讼，控诉

参考例句：

• They threatened him with a lawsuit.他们以诉讼威逼他。
• He was perpetually involving himself in this long lawsuit.他使自己无休止地卷入这场长时间的诉讼。

10 touching   

adj.动人的，使人感伤的

参考例句：

• It was a touching sight.这是一幅动人的景象。
• His letter was touching.他的信很感人。

11 alleged   

a.被指控的，嫌疑的

参考例句：

• It was alleged that he had taken bribes while in office. 他被指称在任时收受贿赂。
• alleged irregularities in the election campaign 被指称竞选运动中的不正当行为

12 retaliation   

n.报复，反击

参考例句：

• retaliation against UN workers 对联合国工作人员的报复
• He never said a single word in retaliation. 他从未说过一句反击的话。 来自《简明英汉词典》

13 racist   

n.种族主义者，种族主义分子

参考例句：

• a series of racist attacks 一连串的种族袭击行为
• His speech presented racist ideas under the guise of nationalism. 他的讲话以民族主义为幌子宣扬种族主义思想。

14 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

15 bolstering   

v.支持( bolster的现在分词 )；支撑；给予必要的支持；援助

参考例句：

• Why should Donahue's people concern themselves with bolstering your image? 唐纳休的人为什么要费心维护你的形象？ 来自辞典例句
• He needed bolstering and support. 他需要别人助他一臂之力。 来自辞典例句

16 literally   

adv.照字面意义，逐字地；确实

参考例句：

• He translated the passage literally.他逐字逐句地翻译这段文字。
• Sometimes she would not sit down till she was literally faint.有时候，她不走到真正要昏厥了，决不肯坐下来。