2006年VOA标准英语-Republican Lawmaker Tom DeLay to Leave Con

By Jim Malone
Washington
04 April 2006

 
Video image provided by Rep. Tom DeLay's office shows DeLay announcing his intention to resign from Congress
  
Texas Congressman¹ Tom DeLay, once one of the most powerful Republicans in Washington, has surprised political allies and rivals alike with his decision to give up his House seat and return to private life.

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Tom DeLay has been embattled for months.  He faces criminal charges for alleged² campaign finance violations³ in his home state of Texas.  In addition, two former top aides have been implicated⁴ in the widening corruption⁵ scandal involving one-time Republican lobbyist Jack⁶ Abramoff.

DeLay has denied wrongdoing in connection with both cases and recently won a Republican Party primary to defend his congressional seat in November.  But recent polls had him trailing his Democratic opponent, Nick Lampson.

Faced with the possibility that his seat would fall into Democratic hands, DeLay released a videotaped statement announcing he will resign his seat in the next few months.

"Because I care so deeply about this district and the people in it, I refuse to allow liberal Democrats⁷ an opportunity to steal this seat with a negative, personal campaign," said Mr. DeLay.

As House Republican leader, Tom DeLay was one of the most effective and most feared congressional leaders in decades and was given the nickname of "The Hammer" for his bare-knuckled political style.

DeLay made a series of phone calls to key Republicans prior to his announcement, including one to President Bush.

"I wished him all the very best, and I know he is looking forward, he is looking to the future," said Mr. Bush.  "My own judgment⁸ is that our party will continue to succeed because we are the party of ideas."

Among those paying tribute was the current leader of Republicans in the House of Representatives, Congressman John Boehner of Ohio.

"When it comes to cutting taxes, getting rid of burdensome regulations, welfare reform, Tom has truly been a leader for us," said Mr. Boehner.

Opposition⁹ Democrats have long regarded DeLay as one of the most aggressively partisan¹⁰ and divisive Republicans in Washington.

They have been trying to exploit DeLay's political troubles for months and plan to make corruption and the Abramoff lobbying scandal major issues in congressional midterm elections in November.

This is National Democratic Party Chairman Howard Dean.

"Tom DeLay's leaving of the office is a very good sign.  But there are, unfortunately, many, many other corruption problems under the Republican administration in Washington," said Mr. Dean.

DeLay was forced to give up his leadership position last year and abandoned plans to try and reclaim¹¹ it in January.  It has been a rapid fall from power for a man first elected to Congress in 1984 and who came to national prominence¹² as assistant majority leader after Republicans won control of the House in 1994.

Larry Sabato directs the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia.

"Clearly, the accumulation of scandals has just proved too much for him," said Mr. Sabato.

Lawmakers from both parties and political analysts¹⁴ are now trying to assess how DeLay's departure from Congress will impact this year's elections.

This is independent analyst¹³ Stuart Rothenberg.

"It is abundantly clear that Americans are dissatisfied with the current leadership, the current direction of the country, and want change," said Mr. Rothenburg.  "And since most elections are about status quo or change, keep the guys who are running the show in place or bring in new people, that is good news for the Democrats, who are the out party in every area."

Republicans control the White House and both houses of Congress.  Congressional analyst Amy Walter says that can often mean trouble halfway¹⁵ through a president's second term in office.

"Midterm elections traditionally are referendum elections and it is almost a given that the party in the White House loses seats in a midterm election," said Ms. Walter.

Some analysts believe Delay's resignation will help Republicans by taking the national spotlight¹⁶ off of him and, to an extent, the issue of corruption.

Fred Barnes is an editor with the Weekly Standard magazine and a recent guest on VOA's Press Conference USA.

"Well, I think that 2006 does not look like a great Republican year, that is for sure," said Mr. Barnes.  "I suspect that Republicans will run very strong campaign in the fall and effect will be to neutralize¹⁷ a bad situation for them."

Democrats need to gain 15 seats in the November elections to take control of the 435-member House and six seats to regain¹⁸ a majority in the 100-member Senate.

1 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。

2 alleged   

a.被指控的，嫌疑的

参考例句：

• It was alleged that he had taken bribes while in office. 他被指称在任时收受贿赂。
• alleged irregularities in the election campaign 被指称竞选运动中的不正当行为

3 violations   

违反( violation的名词复数 )； 冒犯； 违反（行为、事例）； 强奸

参考例句：

• This is one of the commonest traffic violations. 这是常见的违反交通规则之例。
• These violations of the code must cease forthwith. 这些违犯法规的行为必须立即停止。

4 implicated   

adj.密切关联的；牵涉其中的

参考例句：

• These groups are very strongly implicated in the violence. 这些组织与这起暴力事件有着极大的关联。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Having the stolen goods in his possession implicated him in the robbery. 因藏有赃物使他涉有偷盗的嫌疑。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

5 corruption   

n.腐败，堕落，贪污

参考例句：

• The people asked the government to hit out against corruption and theft.人民要求政府严惩贪污盗窃。
• The old man reviled against corruption.那老人痛斥了贪污舞弊。

6 jack   

n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克

参考例句：

• I am looking for the headphone jack.我正在找寻头戴式耳机插孔。
• He lifted the car with a jack to change the flat tyre.他用千斤顶把车顶起来换下瘪轮胎。

7 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》

8 judgment   

n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见

参考例句：

• The chairman flatters himself on his judgment of people.主席自认为他审视人比别人高明。
• He's a man of excellent judgment.他眼力过人。

9 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。

10 partisan   

adj.党派性的；游击队的；n.游击队员；党徒

参考例句：

• In their anger they forget all the partisan quarrels.愤怒之中，他们忘掉一切党派之争。
• The numerous newly created partisan detachments began working slowly towards that region.许多新建的游击队都开始慢慢地向那里移动。

11 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。

12 prominence   

n.突出；显著；杰出；重要

参考例句：

• He came to prominence during the World Cup in Italy.他在意大利的世界杯赛中声名鹊起。
• This young fashion designer is rising to prominence.这位年轻的时装设计师的声望越来越高。

13 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。

14 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

15 halfway   

adj.中途的，不彻底的，部分的；adv.半路地，在中途，在半途

参考例句：

• We had got only halfway when it began to get dark.走到半路，天就黑了。
• In study the worst danger is give up halfway.在学习上，最忌讳的是有始无终。

16 spotlight   

n.公众注意的中心，聚光灯，探照灯，视听，注意，醒目

参考例句：

• This week the spotlight is on the world of fashion.本周引人瞩目的是时装界。
• The spotlight followed her round the stage.聚光灯的光圈随着她在舞台上转。

17 neutralize   

v.使失效、抵消，使中和

参考例句：

• Nothing could neutralize its good effects.没有什么能抵消它所产生的好影响。
• Acids neutralize alkalis and vice versa.酸能使碱中和碱，亦能使酸中和。

18 regain   

vt.重新获得，收复，恢复

参考例句：

• He is making a bid to regain his World No.1 ranking.他正为重登世界排名第一位而努力。
• The government is desperate to regain credibility with the public.政府急于重新获取公众的信任。