voa标准英语2008年-Tom Daschle Agrees to Join Obama Cabinet

Democratic Party officials say former U.S. Senate Majority leader Tom Daschle has accepted President-elect Barack Obama's offer to be Secretary of Health and Human Services in the incoming administration. Obama's transition team has also signaled that Eric Holder² is his choice for Attorney General. Holder would be the first African American to serve in that post. Senator Hillary Clinton is said to still be considering an offer by Mr. Obama to be Secretary of State. VOA Correspondent Cindy Saine has more on how Mr. Obama's cabinet is shaping up.
　

Former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle speaks during the Democratic National Convention in Denver in this 27 Aug 2008 file photo

Tom Daschle would be a high profile pick to to overhaul³ the U.S. healthcare system. As Health and Human Services secretary, Daschle would play a pivotal role in President-elect Obama' plans to extend healthcare coverage⁴ to the 47 million Americans - nearly one-sixth of the total population - who do not have health insurance.

The South Dakota Democrat¹ was an early supporter of Mr. Obama's presidential bid and a close adviser⁵ to him throughout the campaign.

Eric Holder is reported to be Mr. Obama's choice to head the Justice Department. The 57-year-old son of a Barbados immigrant would be charged with restoring public confidence in the department, which has been damaged by charges of political meddling⁶ under President Bush and his former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales. Holder held the number two post at the Justice Department under former President Bill Clinton, and has also served as a federal prosecutor⁷. The two cabinet choices have not yet been officially announced.
　

Hillary Clinton (file)

Speculation⁸ continues about whether or not Mr. Obama's former Democratic rival for the White House, Senator Clinton, will join his cabinet. Presidential historian and NBC analyst⁹ Doris Kearns Goodwin said Clinton would bring tremendous advantages to the position.

"For one thing it means you are going to have someone inside your inner circle who is able to argue with you, she is a strong-minded person, and you need options within your inner circle," she explained.

Reports say President Clinton has offered to provide information that would help in the approval process for the secretary of state job by releasing the names of some of his major donors¹⁰ to his charitable organization. Democratic sources say Mr. Clinton is also likely to submit future foundation activities and paid speeches to strict ethics¹¹ reviews. University of Virginia political analyst Larry Sabato told CBS he believes the job is hers if her husband makes his finances transparent¹².

"President-elect Obama clearly is willing to appoint Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State if Bill Clinton agrees to become transparent on the financial side," he noted¹³.

Presidential historian Doris Kearns Goodwin told MSNBC she believes current presidents do not make enough use of the counsel of former presidents, and that Bill Clinton as a spouse¹⁴ would be an asset.

"So I think whatever complications Bill will bring, the idea that he might be within that inner circle to offer advice and suggestions, and even arguments, I think can only be much better than whatever the difficulties they are going to bring," she added.

Reports say Senator Clinton is seriously weighing whether to leave her seat as U.S Senator from New York to join Mr. Obama's cabinet. Senator Clinton is passionate¹⁵ about health care and a number of other domestic issues, which she would have to give up if she became secretary of state.

1 democrat   

n.民主主义者，民主人士；民主党党员

参考例句：

• The Democrat and the Public criticized each other.民主党人和共和党人互相攻击。
• About two years later,he was defeated by Democrat Jimmy Carter.大约两年后，他被民主党人杰米卡特击败。

2 holder   

n.持有者，占有者；(台，架等)支持物

参考例句：

• The holder of the office of chairman is reponsible for arranging meetings.担任主席职位的人负责安排会议。
• That runner is the holder of the world record for the hundred-yard dash.那位运动员是一百码赛跑世界纪录的保持者。

3 overhaul   

v./n.大修，仔细检查

参考例句：

• Master Worker Wang is responsible for the overhaul of this grinder.王师傅主修这台磨床。
• It is generally appreciated that the rail network needs a complete overhaul.众所周知，铁路系统需要大检修。

4 coverage   

n.报导，保险范围，保险额，范围，覆盖

参考例句：

• There's little coverage of foreign news in the newspaper.报纸上几乎没有国外新闻报道。
• This is an insurance policy with extensive coverage.这是一项承保范围广泛的保险。

5 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。

6 meddling   

v.干涉，干预（他人事务）( meddle的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• He denounced all "meddling" attempts to promote a negotiation. 他斥责了一切“干预”促成谈判的企图。 来自辞典例句
• They liked this field because it was never visited by meddling strangers. 她们喜欢这块田野，因为好事的陌生人从来不到那里去。 来自辞典例句

7 prosecutor   

n.起诉人；检察官，公诉人

参考例句：

• The defender argued down the prosecutor at the court.辩护人在法庭上驳倒了起诉人。
• The prosecutor would tear your testimony to pieces.检查官会把你的证言驳得体无完肤。

8 speculation   

n.思索，沉思；猜测；投机

参考例句：

• Her mind is occupied with speculation.她的头脑忙于思考。
• There is widespread speculation that he is going to resign.人们普遍推测他要辞职。

9 analyst   

n.分析家，化验员；心理分析学家

参考例句：

• What can you contribute to the position of a market analyst?你有什么技能可有助于市场分析员的职务？
• The analyst is required to interpolate values between standards.分析人员需要在这些标准中插入一些值。

10 donors   

n.捐赠者( donor的名词复数 )；献血者；捐血者；器官捐献者

参考例句：

• Please email us to be removed from our active list of blood donors. 假如你想把自己的名字从献血联系人名单中删去，请给我们发电子邮件。
• About half this amount comes from individual donors and bequests. 这笔钱大约有一半来自个人捐赠及遗赠。 来自《简明英汉词典》

11 ethics   

n.伦理学；伦理观，道德标准

参考例句：

• The ethics of his profession don't permit him to do that.他的职业道德不允许他那样做。
• Personal ethics and professional ethics sometimes conflict.个人道德和职业道德有时会相互抵触。

12 transparent   

adj.明显的，无疑的；透明的

参考例句：

• The water is so transparent that we can see the fishes swimming.水清澈透明，可以看到鱼儿游来游去。
• The window glass is transparent.窗玻璃是透明的。

13 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

14 spouse   

n.配偶(指夫或妻)

参考例句：

• Her spouse will come to see her on Sunday.她的丈夫星期天要来看她。
• What is the best way to keep your spouse happy in the marriage?在婚姻中保持配偶幸福的最好方法是什么？

15 passionate   

adj.热情的，热烈的，激昂的，易动情的，易怒的，性情暴躁的

参考例句：

• He is said to be the most passionate man.据说他是最有激情的人。
• He is very passionate about the project.他对那个项目非常热心。