VOA标准英语2008年-Democrats Open Convention With Calls for Party

Democrats¹ have launched their presidential nominating convention, portraying² their candidate Barack Obama as a man of faith and American values. Party leaders are hoping the gathering³ will inspire unity⁴ and heal wounds from a contentious⁵ primary season. VOA Correspondent Meredith Buel has details from the convention being held in Denver, Colorado.
　
Michelle Obama addresses the Democratic National Convention, 25 Aug 08

Democratic delegates erupted on the floor of their convention as the candidate's wife, Michelle Obama, arrived.

Her goal on the opening night of the convention was to give millions of Americans watching on television an opportunity to meet a family that, for many, is largely unknown.

"I come here as a wife who loves my husband and believes he will be an extraordinary president," she said.

Democrats hope Barack Obama will make history as the first African-American president of the United States.

Michele Obama says she and her husband come from similar working-class backgrounds and were raised with the same values of hard work and treating people with dignity and respect.

"Barack and I set out to build lives guided by these values and pass them on to the next generation," she said. "Because we want our children and all children in this nation, to know that the only limit to the height of your achievements is the reach of your dreams and your willingness to work hard for them."

Senator Obama is not in Denver, but made an appearance via satellite to greet the delegates and say hello to his two daughters and congratulate his wife on her speech.

"Now you know why I asked her out so many times even though she said 'no,'" he said. "You want a persistent⁶ president."
　
Edward Kennedy addresses Democratic National Convention

An emotional highlight to the convention's first night was a tribute to U.S. Senator Edward Kennedy, an early Obama supporter who was diagnosed several months ago with brain cancer.

The senator is the last surviving brother of the late President John F. Kennedy and a Democratic Party icon⁷ who has served more than four decades in the U.S. Congress.

He told the cheering delegates the time has come to pass the torch of leadership to a new generation.

"I have come here tonight to stand with you, to change America, to restore its future, to rise to our best ideals and to elect Barack Obama president of the United States," he said.

In addition to introducing Obama, another critical task for the Democrats is to unite their party after a marathon primary season between him and Senator Hillary Clinton.

Polls show a significant number of Clinton supporters, still upset that she lost the nomination⁸ and was not selected as Obama's running mate, may vote for Republican candidate John McCain in November.

Senator Clinton is urging her supporters to back Obama and will address the convention on Tuesday.

Clinton delegate Joe Ellen Litz still has a strong emotional attachment⁹ to her candidate, but says she will vote for Obama in the November election.

"What he can do is be, wow, open and honest and I guess I would like to use the word sensitive to the feelings of all of the people who supported Hillary," she said.

The Democrats will formally nominate Obama Thursday and he is scheduled to accept during a speech to at least 75,000 people at an outdoor sports stadium.

1 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》

2 portraying   

v.画像( portray的现在分词 )；描述；描绘；描画

参考例句：

• The artist has succeeded in portraying my father to the life. 那位画家把我的父亲画得惟妙惟肖。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Ding Ling was good at portraying figures through careful and refined description of human psychology. 《莎菲女士的日记》是丁玲的成名作，曾引起强烈的社会反响。 来自汉英文学 - 中国现代小说

3 gathering   

n.集会，聚会，聚集

参考例句：

• He called on Mr. White to speak at the gathering.他请怀特先生在集会上讲话。
• He is on the wing gathering material for his novels.他正忙于为他的小说收集资料。

4 unity   

n.团结，联合，统一；和睦，协调

参考例句：

• When we speak of unity,we do not mean unprincipled peace.所谓团结，并非一团和气。
• We must strengthen our unity in the face of powerful enemies.大敌当前，我们必须加强团结。

5 contentious   

adj.好辩的，善争吵的

参考例句：

• She was really not of the contentious fighting sort.她委实不是好吵好闹的人。
• Since then they have tended to steer clear of contentious issues.从那时起，他们总想方设法避开有争议的问题。

6 persistent   

adj.坚持不懈的，执意的；持续的

参考例句：

• Albert had a persistent headache that lasted for three days.艾伯特连续头痛了三天。
• She felt embarrassed by his persistent attentions.他不时地向她大献殷勤，使她很难为情。

7 icon   

n.偶像，崇拜的对象，画像

参考例句：

• They found an icon in the monastery.他们在修道院中发现了一个圣像。
• Click on this icon to align or justify text.点击这个图标使文本排齐。

8 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。

9 attachment   

n.附属物，附件；依恋；依附

参考例句：

• She has a great attachment to her sister.她十分依恋她的姐姐。
• She's on attachment to the Ministry of Defense.她现在隶属于国防部。