VOA常速英语2007年-Iowa Democrats Brave Colder Weather to See the

Des Moines, Iowa
01 November 2007
 
With about two months to go before Iowans choose their presidential candidates, Democratic hopefuls are visiting the state often. Voters in the mostly rural, Midwestern state will go to caucuses² in early January, becoming the first voters in the nation to choose among more than a half dozen Democrats³ vying⁴ to become the next U.S. president. VOA's Jeff Swicord takes a look at what Iowa Democratic voters say is important this election year.

It takes a hearty⁵ soul to get out on a crisp fall morning in Iowa to see a presidential candidate. But Democrats here who want to take back the White House after eight years of Republican rule are doing just that.

On this day, Illinois Senator Barack Obama is in Des Moines. And Democrats, like Sharon Gee⁶, a retired⁷ social worker, have come with a long list of issues they want addressed. She says, "There is a number of things, of course. The Iraq war, of course, health care, including children's care. The economy, the budget, lots of things. I am worried about where the money is being spent and all the money that is off budget for the war."

According to recent polls, Barack Obama consistently trails New York Senator Hillary Clinton by several percentage points in Iowa. He brings to voters a message of social justice. He said to one audience, "They are tired of economic policies that seem to widen the divide between rich and not so rich. You have got CEO's that are making more in 10 minutes than ordinary people are making in a year."

Many of the the young, first-time voters in the audience expressed interest in issues like global warming. University student Sujatha Jahagirdar says she liked Barak Obama's proposal to increase government funded student grants."You know there are a set of issues that will have a big impact on the next generation. And so, I think young people are really interested in what the candidates are going to do about those issues."

Later that day at a senior center in East Des Moines, Obama took on social security, an important issue for many older voters. The government-managed retirement⁸ fund which, by law, working Americans pay into is expected to run low on funding in the future. President Bush has proposed allowing people to invest some funds privately⁹.

The Illinois Democrat¹ proposes instead to end a social security tax exemption¹⁰ for some earnings¹¹ of the wealthy. "I did want to say a few words about an issue that is most important in this election. And that is how can we make sure that after a lifetime of hard work, an honest living, folks are rewarded with a secure and dignified¹² retirement," Obama said.

Edith Sharp, a retired teacher, was impressed with what Senator Obama had to say. When asked what  is important to you this election? She responded, "Well naturally, I am a senior citizen. And I am for the Social Security, the medical programs -- everything he talked about."

Like their Republican counterparts, on January 3rd, 2008, Iowa Democrats will be the first in the nation to choose from a crowded field of presidential candidates. With less than two months to go, Iowa's mornings are getting colder but the primary races are heating up.

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 caucuses   

n.（政党决定政策或推举竞选人的）核心成员( caucus的名词复数 )；决策干部；决策委员会；秘密会议

参考例句：

• Republican caucuses will happen in about 410 towns across Maine. 共和党团会议选举将在缅因州的约410个城镇进行。 来自互联网

3 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》

4 vying   

adj.竞争的；比赛的

参考例句：

• California is vying with other states to capture a piece of the growing communications market.为了在日渐扩大的通讯市场分得一杯羹，加利福尼亚正在和其他州展开竞争。
• Four rescue plans are vying to save the zoo.4个拯救动物园的方案正争得不可开交。

5 hearty   

adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的

参考例句：

• After work they made a hearty meal in the worker's canteen.工作完了，他们在工人食堂饱餐了一顿。
• We accorded him a hearty welcome.我们给他热忱的欢迎。

6 gee   

n.马；int.向右！前进！，惊讶时所发声音；v.向右转

参考例句：

• Their success last week will gee the team up.上星期的胜利将激励这支队伍继续前进。
• Gee,We're going to make a lot of money.哇！我们会赚好多钱啦！

7 retired   

adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的

参考例句：

• The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。
• Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。

8 retirement   

n.退休，退职

参考例句：

• She wanted to enjoy her retirement without being beset by financial worries.她想享受退休生活而不必为金钱担忧。
• I have to put everything away for my retirement.我必须把一切都积蓄起来以便退休后用。

9 privately   

adv.以私人的身份，悄悄地，私下地

参考例句：

• Some ministers admit privately that unemployment could continue to rise.一些部长私下承认失业率可能继续升高。
• The man privately admits that his motive is profits.那人私下承认他的动机是为了牟利。

10 exemption   

n.豁免，免税额，免除

参考例句：

• You may be able to apply for exemption from local taxes.你可能符合资格申请免除地方税。
• These goods are subject to exemption from tax.这些货物可以免税。

11 earnings   

n.工资收人；利润，利益，所得

参考例句：

• That old man lives on the earnings of his daughter.那个老人靠他女儿的收入维持生活。
• Last year there was a 20% decrease in his earnings.去年他的收入减少了20%。

12 dignified   

a.可敬的，高贵的

参考例句：

• Throughout his trial he maintained a dignified silence. 在整个审讯过程中，他始终沉默以保持尊严。
• He always strikes such a dignified pose before his girlfriend. 他总是在女友面前摆出这种庄严的姿态。