VOA常速英语2007年-Iraq, Economy, Health Care Top Issues for US Vo

By Cindy Saine
Washington, D.C.
20 December 2007
 

Public opinion polls show the war in Iraq, the economy, and health care are the issues Americans care about most in the 2008 presidential race.  VOA's Cindy Saine takes a look at the various domestic issues likely to resonate with voters next year.

As voters get ready to choose their presidential candidates, the housing market is declining, oil prices are soaring and the stock market is volatile¹.  Opinion polls show voters are worried about the future of the economy, saying it is the top domestic issue on their minds.

Karlyn Bowman monitors public opinion at the American Enterprise Institute. She says, "There is a lot of talk in American politics about our economy may be heading into a recession.  Certainly the public is very pessimistic on that score, with about 70 percent of Americans saying that we are heading into a recession. "

Polls show the other domestic issue voters mention most often is health care. Millions have no health insurance at all, while millions more pay high insurance fees for limited services.

The top two Democratic candidates, Senator Hillary Clinton and Senator Barack Obama, have been vying² to distinguish their own health care plan from their rivals.

"I have a universal health care plan that covers everyone,” said Senator Clinton during a recent debate. “I've been fighting this battle against the special interest for more than 15 years, and I am proud to fight this battle."

Then Senator Obama countered, "What I see are people who would love to have health care. They desperately³ want it. But the problem is they can't afford it, which is why we have put forward legislation -- we've put forward a plan that makes sure that it is affordable⁴ to get health care that is as good as the health care that I have as a member of Congress."

Among Republicans, illegal immigration is a hot button issue.  Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt⁵ Romney, during a TV debate, accused former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani of welcoming illegal immigrants into the city. Giuliani hit back. "There is even a sanctuary⁶ mansion⁷.  At his own home illegal immigrants were being employed." To which Mr. Romney said, "Mayor, you know better than that." However, Romney has since fired the landscaping firm he had employed at his home.

Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee -- whose support has surged in recent weeks -- has taken a different tack⁸ on illegal immigration. He fended⁹ off an attack by Romney who criticized him for supporting a proposed state scholarship program that would have included the children of illegal immigrants. "In all due respect,” said Huckabee, “we are a better country than to punish children for what their parents did.  We're a better country than that."

Polls show most American voters are conflicted in their own minds about illegal immigration.

Ms. Bowman at the American Enterprise Institute says, "Voters are of two minds about the immigration issue.  They are very concerned about protecting our borders.  At the same time, they don't want to be especially punitive¹⁰.  They believe that immigrants have added a lot to the country and that they work very hard and that they take jobs that a lot of Americans won't take." 

Polls show the issues of national security and terrorism have receded¹¹ somewhat since the 2004 presidential election -- when they were central to the campaign. Now, voters just have to decide which candidate best represents them on the issues they care about most. 

1 volatile   

adj.反复无常的，挥发性的，稍纵即逝的，脾气火爆的；n.挥发性物质

参考例句：

• With the markets being so volatile,investments are at great risk.由于市场那么变化不定，投资冒着很大的风险。
• His character was weak and volatile.他这个人意志薄弱，喜怒无常。

2 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。

3 desperately   

adv.极度渴望地，绝望地，孤注一掷地

参考例句：

• He was desperately seeking a way to see her again.他正拼命想办法再见她一面。
• He longed desperately to be back at home.他非常渴望回家。

4 affordable   

adj.支付得起的，不太昂贵的

参考例句：

• The rent for the four-roomed house is affordable.四居室房屋的房租付得起。
• There are few affordable apartments in big cities.在大城市中没有几所公寓是便宜的。

5 mitt   

n.棒球手套，拳击手套，无指手套；vt.铐住，握手

参考例句：

• I gave him a baseball mitt for his birthday.为祝贺他的生日，我送给他一只棒球手套。
• Tom squeezed a mitt and a glove into the bag.汤姆把棒球手套和手套都塞进袋子里。

6 sanctuary   

n.圣所，圣堂，寺庙；禁猎区，保护区

参考例句：

• There was a sanctuary of political refugees behind the hospital.医院后面有一个政治难民的避难所。
• Most countries refuse to give sanctuary to people who hijack aeroplanes.大多数国家拒绝对劫机者提供庇护。

7 mansion   

n.大厦，大楼；宅第

参考例句：

• The old mansion was built in 1850.这座古宅建于1850年。
• The mansion has extensive grounds.这大厦四周的庭园广阔。

8 tack   

n.大头钉；假缝，粗缝

参考例句：

• He is hammering a tack into the wall to hang a picture.他正往墙上钉一枚平头钉用来挂画。
• We are going to tack the map on the wall.我们打算把这张地图钉在墙上。

9 fended   

v.独立生活，照料自己( fend的过去式和过去分词 )；挡开，避开

参考例句：

• He neatly fended off a jab at his chest. 他利落地挡开了当胸的一击。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• I fended off his sword thrust with my spear. 他一刀砍来，我拿枪架住。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

10 punitive   

adj.惩罚的，刑罚的

参考例句：

• They took punitive measures against the whole gang.他们对整帮人采取惩罚性措施。
• The punitive tariff was imposed to discourage tire imports from China.该惩罚性关税的征收是用以限制中国轮胎进口的措施。

11 receded   

v.逐渐远离( recede的过去式和过去分词 )；向后倾斜；自原处后退或避开别人的注视；尤指问题

参考例句：

• The floodwaters have now receded. 洪水现已消退。
• The sound of the truck receded into the distance. 卡车的声音渐渐在远处消失了。