PBS高端访谈:拜登宣布竞选总统（在线收听）

JUDY WOODRUFF: Will he or won't he? Months of anticipation and hesitation ended today, with latest Democrat to enter the race for the White House.

JOE BIDEN (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: We are in the battle for the soul of this nation.

JUDY WOODRUFF: Setting up a direct clash with President Trump over American ideals and values, former Vice President Joe Biden officially entered the 2020 presidential race this morning in a video announcement, Biden lambasted President Trump for his response to the 2017 white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, where a counter-protester was killed.

JOE BIDEN: He said there were, quote, some very fine people on both sides. Very fine people on both sides?

JUDY WOODRUFF: The 76-year-old Delaware Democrat laid out the choice American voters face.

JOE BIDEN: If we give Donald Trump eight years in the White House, he will forever and fundamentally alter the character of this nation.

JUDY WOODRUFF: With a long political career marked by highs and lows, Biden became one of the youngest-ever U.S. senators, elected at the age of 29 in 1972. But tragedy hit just weeks later when his wife and one-year-old daughter were killed in a car accident. Biden went on to serve 36 years in the Senate, forming fast friendships with lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, including former Arizona Senator John McCain.

JOE BIDEN: My name is Joe Biden. I'm a Democrat. And I love John McCain.

JUDY WOODRUFF: But now, Biden finds himself in a Democratic Party that has lately shifted left, favoring policies that counter many of Biden's past positions, positions like his integral role in the federal government's war on drugs in the 1980s and '90s that led to mass incarcerations, and his support for expanding gun sales in the 1980s.

JOE BIDEN: I haven't always been right. I know we haven't always gotten things right. But I’ve always tried.

JUDY WOODRUFF: The long-time centrist has since taken more progressive positions. But, Biden is also guaranteed to face criticism by liberals for his role as chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee in 1991, when Attorney Anita Hill testified that then-Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas had sexually harassed her. Lawmakers from both parties then eviscerated Hill's testimony. Recently, Biden has also faced allegations of inappropriately touching women and not respecting their personal space. Biden didn't apologize, but said he would do better. At times, gaffe-prone, this is Biden's third attempt at the presidency. His 1988 bid was marked by allegations of plagiarism. After a short 2008 presidential bid, Biden agreed to run as Barack Obama's vice presidential nominee. And, while Biden helped to win over the Obama coalition of black and Northern white voters that helped win the White House in 2008 and again in 2012, he faces now a serious challenge from Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders and a host of rising, younger progressive Democrats. President Trump took note of Biden's announcement today and the bruising primary that awaits him. Mr. Trump tweeted "Welcome to the race, Sleepy Joe".

REPORTER: What are you feeling today?

JOE BIDEN: I feel great!

JUDY WOODRUFF: Today, Biden appeared ready for the fight. Leaving a pizza shop, a reporter asked Biden if he had a message for the rest of the world.

JOE BIDEN: America is coming back like it used to be, ethical, straight, telling the truth, moving in a way, supporting our allies, all those good things.

朱迪·伍德拉夫：他会还是不会，这是个问题。几个月的期盼与纠结终于在今天落幕——最后一位参加竞选的民主党出现。

乔·拜登，总统候选人：我们正在为美国的灵魂究竟是什么而争。

朱迪·伍德拉夫：他与特朗普总统正面交锋，就美国理想和价值观叫板，今早，曾经担任副总统的乔·拜登通过视频正式宣布参加2020年总统大选。他在视频中炮轰特朗普对2017年弗吉尼亚州夏洛茨维尔白人民族主义者集会所做出的响应。在这次集会中，一名反抗议者死亡。

乔·拜登：特朗普总统原话说两边都是非常好的人。可是事实是这样吗？

朱迪·伍德拉夫：76岁的拜登是特拉华州的民主党议员。他在视频中指出了美国选民所面临的选择。

乔·拜登：如果让特朗普连任的话，他就会担任为期8年的美国总统，他就永远都不会改变美国的特质。

朱迪·伍德拉夫：拜登在漫长的政治生涯中曾大起大落，他曾是美国最年轻的参议员之一。1972年就当选为参议员，那时候他只有29岁。当选几周后，悲剧发生了——他的妻子和年仅1岁的女儿在车祸中丧生。拜登担任了36年的参议员，与两个政党的许多议员成为了朋友，包括前亚利桑那州参议员约翰·麦凯恩。

乔·拜登：我是乔·拜登，我是一名民主党人，我很喜欢约翰·麦凯恩。

朱迪·伍德拉夫：而现在，拜登却发现他所在的民主党已经开始左倾，他们所支持的政策与拜登过往的大部分从业生涯相违背。比如，他从业生涯中的上世纪八九十年代，联邦政府就毒品一事起了激烈的意见分歧，而他在其中扮演了正直的角色。这次分歧导致许多人被关了禁闭；再比如上世纪80年代，他支持的是加大枪支出售。

乔·拜登：我也曾犯错，如今我也意识到自己曾经做过的错事，但我的初衷是好的。

朱迪·伍德拉夫：曾长期保持中立的他自那以后就采取了更为先进的立场。不过，乔·拜登有一段经历是一定会受到自由主义者诟病的，那就是他1991年担任参议院司法委员会主席期间所扮演的角色。当时，律师安妮塔·希尔证明了时任最高法院提名者克拉伦斯·托马斯曾性侵自己。两党的多位议员随后都探究了希尔证词的真实性。最近，拜登还面临着以不当方式触碰女性肢体的指控，以及不尊重女性个人空间的指控。拜登没有道歉，但是他说自己会做得更好。有时候会说错话，这是拜登想要竞选总统的第三个原因。他1988年竞选总统的时候，面临着抄袭的罪名。在2008年总统竞选初选淘汰时，他决定竞选奥巴马的副总统。拜登曾助力赢得了黑人选民和北部白人选民的支持，并因此在2008年和2012年帮助奥巴马赢得总统职位。虽然如此，他还是没能敌得过佛蒙特州参议员伯尼·桑德斯的挑战。后者是后起之秀，比他更年轻，是进步派的民主党。特朗普总统得知了拜登今天宣布竞选的消息，也得知了拜登对他的言语攻击。特朗普发了推文写道，欢迎参加竞选啊，蔫蔫的乔。

记者：您今天感觉怎样?

乔·拜登：感觉很好！

朱迪·伍德拉夫：今天，拜登准备好参加这场战斗了。在离开披萨店的时候，一名记者问拜登自己是否有想对外界说的话。

乔·拜登：美国回来了，就像以前一样既有道德又直接，又能讲真话，美国现在能支持自己的盟友了，这些都是好的现象。