ESL Podcast 912 – Working as a Lobbyist

 　　Cody: You’re not the kind of person I would expect to work as a lobbyist.

　　Jada: Why not?

　　Cody: I picture lobbyists as being kind of pushy¹ and corrupt², using underhanded tactics.

　　Jada: It’s not like that at all, at least not for me. I just use my powers of persuasion³ to help my clients.

　　Cody: So what do you do exactly?

　　Jada: I meet with legislators and try to sway them to support laws that are favorable to the people and companies I represent, and to discourage them from voting for laws that aren’t.

　　Cody: You’re a spokesperson for your clients, then.

　　Jada: I’m more than that. I work for clients in the private sector⁴ and in corporations, as well as for special interest groups. I advocate for what would benefit my clients in a way that they can’t do themselves directly.

　　Cody: Isn’t there sometimes a conflict of interest? Let’s say your client this month wants a law passed and your client next month doesn’t. What happens then?

　　Jada: I’m a gun for hire. I do my best for my client, whichever that client is at that moment.

　　Cody: I’m glad to hear you say that. I could use the services of a good lobbyist. I’ve been trying to get my wife to agree to buy a new boat...

　　Jada: Stop right there. In this case there is a conflict of interest. Your wife talked to me last week and wants me to have a little talk with you about that new boat...

1 pushy   

adj.固执己见的，一意孤行的

参考例句：

• But she insisted and was very pushy.但她一直坚持,而且很急于求成。
• He made himself unpopular by being so pushy.他特别喜欢出风头，所以人缘不好。

2 corrupt   

v.贿赂，收买；adj.腐败的，贪污的

参考例句：

• The newspaper alleged the mayor's corrupt practices.那家报纸断言市长有舞弊行为。
• This judge is corrupt.这个法官贪污。

3 persuasion   

n.劝说；说服；持有某种信仰的宗派

参考例句：

• He decided to leave only after much persuasion.经过多方劝说，他才决定离开。
• After a lot of persuasion,she agreed to go.经过多次劝说后，她同意去了。

4 sector   

n.部门，部分；防御地段，防区；扇形

参考例句：

• The export sector will aid the economic recovery. 出口产业将促进经济复苏。
• The enemy have attacked the British sector.敌人已进攻英国防区。