2007年VOA标准英语-Democratic US Presidential Candidates Focus on

By Jim Malone
Washington
02 February 2007

Several Democratic presidential contenders auditioned¹ before a crowd of party activists² in Washington Friday. All six candidates who spoke³ focused largely on the war in Iraq, as we hear from VOA National correspondent Jim Malone.

For the first time, the announced presidential contenders got the chance to make a direct appeal for support to Democratic Party activists meeting in Washington.

It was no surprise that the Democratic contenders for the White House focused on Iraq, including some differences among them about how strongly to oppose President Bush's plan to send additional soldiers to Iraq.

 
John Edwards speaks at Democratic National Committee Winter Meetings in Washington, 2 Feb 2007
Former North Carolina Senator, and one time vice⁴ presidential candidate, John Edwards said it would be a betrayal for Democrats⁵ not to stop the troop increase for Iraq, though he did not single out anyone by name.

"We cannot be satisfied with passing non-binding [Senate] resolutions that we know this president will ignore," he said. "We have the power to stop the escalation⁶ of this war. We have to use our power. We have to be strong. We have to stand up for what is right."

The Senate is expected to debate non-binding resolutions on the troop increase next week. Among those who supports a bipartisan resolution opposing the increase in troops is Senator Hillary Clinton of New York, who experts say at the moment is the frontrunner for the Democratic Party's presidential nomination⁷.

 
Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton gestures while speaking at DNC Winter Meetings in Washington, 2 Feb 2007
"There are many people who wish we could do more," she said. "But let me say that if we can get a large, bipartisan vote to disapprove⁸ this president's plan for escalation, that will be the first time that we will have said 'no' to President Bush and begin to reverse his policies."

Senator Clinton also said she would not have started the war in Iraq and promised she would end it immediately if she is elected in 2008.

Clinton and Edwards are vying⁹ for the top position in public opinion polls among Democrats along with Illinois Senator Barack Obama, the only African-American in the field so far.

 
Sen. Barack Obama delivers a speech at DNC Winter Meetings, 2 Feb 2007
Obama reiterated¹⁰ his opposition¹¹ both to the Iraq war and to the president's troops surge. But he also urged Democrats to stay away from negative attacks on each other.

"Democrats, this is not a game," he said. "This is not a game. This cannot be about who digs up more [political] skeletons on who, who makes the fewest slip-ups on the campaign trial. We owe it to the American people to do more than that. We owe them an election where voters are inspired."

Other presidential contenders who spoke included, in order, Connecticut Senator Chris Dodd, retired¹² Army General Wesley Clark and Ohio Congressman¹³ Dennis Kucinich.

"Get the car out of the ditch," Dodd said. "We are not going to take fear for an answer any longer in America. Those days are over."

"And I grow angry with elected officials who have dragged this country deeper and deeper into Iraq when there are so many other urgent problems abroad and at home," said Clark. "And I ask, can we not do better?"

"Democrats have an obligation to reclaim¹⁴ Congress' constitutional power to end the war," Kucinich said. "If we support the troops, if we truly support the troops, we should bring them home."

All three criticized the president's handling of Iraq and said they would find a way to quickly bring U.S. troops home.

Members of the Democratic National Committee will hear from more presidential candidates on Saturday, including Delaware Senator Joe Biden, New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson, former Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack and former Alaska Senator Mike Gravel¹⁵.

1 auditioned   

vi.试听（audition的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• None of the actresses we have auditioned is suitable. 我们试听的这些女演员都不合适。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• What is that, from some script you auditioned for in the '40s? 什么玩意儿是你40年代试的那些剧本吗？ 来自电影对白

2 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》

3 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

4 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。

5 democrats   

n.民主主义者，民主人士( democrat的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The Democrats held a pep rally on Capitol Hill yesterday. 民主党昨天在国会山召开了竞选誓师大会。
• The democrats organize a filibuster in the senate. 民主党党员组织了阻挠议事。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 escalation   

n.扩大，增加

参考例句：

• The threat of nuclear escalation remains. 核升级的威胁仍旧存在。 来自辞典例句
• Escalation is thus an aspect of deterrence and of crisis management. 因此逐步升级是威慑和危机处理的一个方面。 来自辞典例句

7 nomination   

n.提名，任命，提名权

参考例句：

• John is favourite to get the nomination for club president.约翰最有希望被提名为俱乐部主席。
• Few people pronounced for his nomination.很少人表示赞成他的提名。

8 disapprove   

v.不赞成，不同意，不批准

参考例句：

• I quite disapprove of his behaviour.我很不赞同他的行为。
• She wants to train for the theatre but her parents disapprove.她想训练自己做戏剧演员，但她的父母不赞成。

9 vying   

adj.竞争的；比赛的

参考例句：

• California is vying with other states to capture a piece of the growing communications market.为了在日渐扩大的通讯市场分得一杯羹，加利福尼亚正在和其他州展开竞争。
• Four rescue plans are vying to save the zoo.4个拯救动物园的方案正争得不可开交。

10 reiterated   

反复地说，重申( reiterate的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• "Well, I want to know about it,'she reiterated. “嗯，我一定要知道你的休假日期，"她重复说。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹
• Some twenty-two years later President Polk reiterated and elaborated upon these principles. 大约二十二年之后，波尔克总统重申这些原则并且刻意阐释一番。

11 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

12 retired   

adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的

参考例句：

• The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。
• Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。

13 Congressman   

n.（美）国会议员

参考例句：

• He related several anecdotes about his first years as a congressman.他讲述自己初任议员那几年的几则轶事。
• The congressman is meditating a reply to his critics.这位国会议员正在考虑给他的批评者一个答复。

14 reclaim   

v.要求归还，收回；开垦

参考例句：

• I have tried to reclaim my money without success.我没能把钱取回来。
• You must present this ticket when you reclaim your luggage.当你要取回行李时，必须出示这张票子。

15 gravel   

n.砂跞；砂砾层；结石

参考例句：

• We bought six bags of gravel for the garden path.我们购买了六袋碎石用来铺花园的小路。
• More gravel is needed to fill the hollow in the drive.需要更多的砾石来填平车道上的坑洼。