Kerry Appeals for African-American Votes

 

By Jim Malone

Democratic presidential contender John Kerry has appealed for votes in a speech to a leading civil rights organization. President Bush declined a similar invitation to speak to the group based on what he regards as its hostile attitude toward his administration.

Mindful that African-Americans are among the most loyal voters in the Democratic Party, Senator Kerry appealed for support at the annual convention of the National Association for the Advancement² of Colored People, the NAACP, in Philadelphia.

Senator Kerry made note of President Bush's decision not to speak to the same convention because of what the president believes is a hostile attitude from the NAACP leadership.

"I will be a president who is truly a uniter, not one who seeks to divide one nation by race or riches or by any other label," said John Kerry. "And you know something, the president may be too busy to speak to you now, but I have news for you. He is going to have plenty of time after November 2 [Election Day]."

White House officials contend the NAACP, the nation's oldest civil rights group, long ago crossed the line of civility and partisanship³ by, among other things, referring to Mr. Bush as an illegal president.

Presidential spokesman Scott McClellan told reporters that Mr. Bush is proud to run for re-election on a record of racial inclusion.

"And he has a proven record of working to improve the quality of life for all Americans and a proven record of reaching out to all Americans," he said. "I think it really is disappointing to see the current [NAACP] leadership continue to repeat the hostile rhetoric⁴ that they have used, which really shows that they are not interested in a constructive⁵ dialogue."

Four years ago, Mr. Bush won about 10 percent of the black vote, while Democrat¹ Al Gore⁶ carried the rest.

On another issue, White House officials say there is no truth to speculation⁷ that Vice⁸ President Dick Cheney might be dropped from the Republican presidential ticket.

In an interview with the C-SPAN public affairs network, the vice president said he has been assured that the president wants him on the ticket again this year.

"That I was the man he wanted in that post, not just as a candidate, but as somebody to be a part of the governing team," Mr. Cheney said. "And he has been very clear he does not want to break up the team."

William Schneider, a political analyst⁹ at the American Enterprise Institute in Washington, says the vice president remains¹⁰ very popular with conservative Republican voters.

"Clearly, the Republican base [conservative voters] loves Cheney and Bush has spent a lot of attention appealing to the Republican base," he said. "But more important than that is the fact that Cheney symbolizes¹¹ the president's steadfastness¹² in the war on terror."

Democrats¹³ are preparing to hold their national nominating convention at the end of this month in Boston. Republicans will gather in New York for their convention at the end of August.

Jim Malone, VOA News, Washington.

注释：
hostile 敌对的
mindful 留心的
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People 美国有色人种促进会
Philadelphia 费城
label 标签
civility 礼貌
partisanship 党派性, 党派偏见
rhetoric 雄辩
speculation 推断，推测
C-SPAN Cable Satellite Pubic Affairs Network 公众事务有线电视网
post 职位
American Enterprise Institute 美国企业研究所
steadfastness 坚定

 

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 advancement   

n.前进，促进，提升

参考例句：

• His new contribution to the advancement of physiology was well appreciated.他对生理学发展的新贡献获得高度赞赏。
• The aim of a university should be the advancement of learning.大学的目标应是促进学术。

3 Partisanship   

n. 党派性, 党派偏见

参考例句：

• Her violent partisanship was fighting Soames's battle. 她的激烈偏袒等于替索米斯卖气力。
• There was a link of understanding between them, more important than affection or partisanship. ' 比起人间的感情，比起相同的政见，这一点都来得格外重要。 来自英汉文学

4 rhetoric   

n.修辞学，浮夸之言语

参考例句：

• Do you know something about rhetoric?你懂点修辞学吗？
• Behind all the rhetoric,his relations with the army are dangerously poised.在冠冕堂皇的言辞背后，他和军队的关系岌岌可危。

5 constructive   

adj.建设的，建设性的

参考例句：

• We welcome constructive criticism.我们乐意接受有建设性的批评。
• He is beginning to deal with his anger in a constructive way.他开始用建设性的方法处理自己的怒气。

6 gore   

n.凝血，血污；v.（动物）用角撞伤，用牙刺破；缝以补裆；顶

参考例句：

• The fox lay dying in a pool of gore.狐狸倒在血泊中奄奄一息。
• Carruthers had been gored by a rhinoceros.卡拉瑟斯被犀牛顶伤了。

7 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。

8 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。

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 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

11 symbolizes   

v.象征，作为…的象征( symbolize的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• The use of light and dark symbolizes good and evil. 用光明与黑暗来象征善与恶。
• She likes olive because It'symbolizes peace. 她喜欢橄榄色因为它象征着和平。 来自《简明英汉词典》

12 steadfastness   

n.坚定，稳当

参考例句：

• But he was attacked with increasing boldness and steadfastness. 但他却受到日益大胆和坚决的攻击。 来自辞典例句
• There was an unceremonious directness, a searching, decided steadfastness in his gaze now. 现在他的凝视中有一种不礼貌的直率，一种锐利、断然的坚定。 来自辞典例句

13 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》