VOA常速英语2008年-Obama: Racial Issues Will Not Decide US Electio

By Cindy Saine
Washington
13 March 2008

Senator Barack Obama has expressed frustration¹ that racial issues keep rising to the surface in his battle with Senator Hillary Clinton for the Democratic presidential nomination².   In the latest skirmish, a prominent Clinton fundraiser gave up her post in the campaign following backlash over remarks she made about Senator Obama's race.  VOA Correspondent Cindy Saine reports from Washington.

Former New York Congresswoman Geraldine Ferraro has given up her honorary position in the Clinton campaign, after she told a California newspaper that Senator Obama owes his success in the race for the White House to the fact that he is African American.

Ferraro refused to back away from her comments in her resignation letter, saying she is stepping down from the campaign so she can speak freely, and accusing the Obama campaign of using her comments to attack Senator Clinton.  Ferraro was the first woman to run for vice³ president on a major party ticket in 1984.

Speaking to a group of journalists from more than 200 black newspapers across the country, Senator Clinton distanced herself from Ferraro's statement.

"And I certainly do repudiate⁴ it and regret deeply that it was said," she said.  "Obviously, she does not speak for the campaign, she doesn't speak for any of my positions, and she has resigned from being a member of my very large finance committee."

Senator Obama has called Ferraro's comment "ridiculous" and "wrongheaded", but said he did not believe she intended it to be racist⁵.

Obama said a great majority of voters will base their decisions on substantive⁶ issues, and that his victories in states across the country show he can draw support from all races and all regions.

Larry Sabato, director of the University of Virginia's Center for Politics, said raising the issue of race could be harmful to both Democratic candidates, but it could hurt Obama more.

"I suppose you could argue that anytime race is raised it hurts Obama more, simply because, in America, the electorate⁷ is about 11 to 12 percent African American and for Obama to win a general election he has to win a very substantial minority of the white vote, and he has to win the majority of the Hispanic vote," he said.

Flanked by nine retired⁸ military officers in Chicago, Obama challenged Clinton's repeated suggestion that she and Republican candidate John McCain both have the experience to be commander-in-chief of the U.S. armed forces, but Obama does not.

"After years of being told that Democrats⁹ have to talk, act and vote like John McCain to pass some commander-in-chief test, how many times do we have to learn that tough talk is not a substitute for sound judgment," he asked.  "After years of a war in Iraq that should never have been authorized¹⁰, how many more politicians will appeal to Americans' fears instead of their hopes?"

While the Republicans have already settled on Senator McCain as their nominee¹¹, the two Democratic rivals now have more than five weeks to fight it out until the next primary on April 22 in Pennsylvania, followed by primaries in North Carolina and Indiana.   Obama currently leads in the total number of delegates and in the popular vote.

1 frustration   

n.挫折，失败，失效，落空

参考例句：

• He had to fight back tears of frustration.他不得不强忍住失意的泪水。
• He beat his hands on the steering wheel in frustration.他沮丧地用手打了几下方向盘。

2 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。

3 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。

4 repudiate   

v.拒绝，拒付，拒绝履行

参考例句：

• He will indignantly repudiate the suggestion.他会气愤地拒绝接受这一意见。
• He repudiate all debts incurred by his son.他拒绝偿还他儿子的一切债务。

5 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。

6 substantive   

adj.表示实在的；本质的、实质性的；独立的；n.实词，实名词；独立存在的实体

参考例句：

• They plan to meet again in Rome very soon to begin substantive negotiations.他们计划不久在罗马再次会晤以开始实质性的谈判。
• A president needs substantive advice,but he also requires emotional succor. 一个总统需要实质性的建议，但也需要感情上的支持。

7 electorate   

n.全体选民；选区

参考例句：

• The government was responsible to the electorate.政府对全体选民负责。
• He has the backing of almost a quarter of the electorate.他得到了几乎1/4选民的支持。

8 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。

9 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》

10 authorized   

a.委任的，许可的

参考例句：

• An administrative order is valid if authorized by a statute.如果一个行政命令得到一个法规的认可那么这个命令就是有效的。

11 nominee   

n.被提名者；被任命者；被推荐者

参考例句：

• His nominee for vice president was elected only after a second ballot.他提名的副总统在两轮投票后才当选。
• Mr.Francisco is standing as the official nominee for the post of District Secretary.弗朗西斯科先生是行政书记职位的正式提名人。