2006年VOA标准英语-White House Spokesman Resigns

By Scott Stearns
White House
19 April 2006

Scott McClellan (file photo)   
  
White House Spokesman Scott McClellan is stepping down as President Bush continues to shake up his staff at a time of record-low public approval ratings.

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It has been a busy first week on the job for the new White House Chief of Staff Josh Bolten as he has moved to fill his old job as budget director and will now replace White House Spokesman Scott McClellan.

Standing² with the president on the White House South Lawn, McClellan announced his resignation after seven years with Mr. Bush, the last three as his senior spokesman.

"I am ready to move on," he said.  "I have been in this position a long time, and my wife and I are excited about beginning the next chapter in our life together.  You have accomplished³ a lot over the last several years with this team, and I have been honored and grateful to be a small part of a terrific and talented team of really good people."

President Bush thanked McClellan for his service to the nation and said it has been a job well done.

 
President Bush introduces U.S. Trade Representative Rob Portman as his nominee⁴ for Director of the Office of Management and Budget 
  
"I do not know whether or not the press corps⁵ realizes it, but his is a challenging assignment dealing⁶ with you all on a regular basis, and I thought he handled his assignment with class and integrity," said Mr. Bush.
 
McClellan took over from spokesman Ari Fleischer in June of 2003, shortly after the invasion of Iraq when a majority of Americans supported that war and the president.

McClellan was the public face of the Bush Administration through some difficult episodes, including the failure to find weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, a botched Supreme⁷ Court nomination⁸, the revelation of secret domestic eavesdropping⁹, and the dispute over the Dubai ports deal.

In twice daily briefings with the White House press corps, McClellan has defended the president's handling of the war in Iraq at a time of falling public support.

That drop, coupled with record low public approval ratings, has fueled this staff shake-up with Chief of Staff Bolten looking to reinvigorate the Bush team for its final two years.

McClellan spoke¹ of that need in his resignation, saying it is a good time to move on as it is a period of transition at the White House and change can be helpful.

More changes are expected.  Bolten has convinced long-time political adviser¹⁰ Karl Rove to give up his oversight¹¹ of policy development and focus more on politics before mid-term congressional elections in November.

1 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

2 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

3 accomplished   

adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的

参考例句：

• Thanks to your help,we accomplished the task ahead of schedule.亏得你们帮忙,我们才提前完成了任务。
• Removal of excess heat is accomplished by means of a radiator.通过散热器完成多余热量的排出。

4 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。

5 corps   

n.(通信等兵种的)部队；(同类作的)一组

参考例句：

• The medical corps were cited for bravery in combat.医疗队由于在战场上的英勇表现而受嘉奖。
• When the war broke out,he volunteered for the Marine Corps.战争爆发时，他自愿参加了海军陆战队。

6 dealing   

n.经商方法，待人态度

参考例句：

• This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
• His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。

7 supreme   

adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的

参考例句：

• It was the supreme moment in his life.那是他一生中最重要的时刻。
• He handed up the indictment to the supreme court.他把起诉书送交最高法院。

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 eavesdropping   

n. 偷听

参考例句：

• We caught him eavesdropping outside the window. 我们撞见他正在窗外偷听。
• Suddenly the kids,who had been eavesdropping,flew into the room. 突然间，一直在偷听的孩子们飞进屋来。

10 adviser   

n.劝告者，顾问

参考例句：

• They employed me as an adviser.他们聘请我当顾问。
• Our department has engaged a foreign teacher as phonetic adviser.我们系已经聘请了一位外籍老师作为语音顾问。

11 oversight   

n.勘漏，失察，疏忽

参考例句：

• I consider this a gross oversight on your part.我把这件事看作是你的一大疏忽。
• Your essay was not marked through an oversight on my part.由于我的疏忽你的文章没有打分。