2007年VOA标准英语-Bipartisan Congressional Rock/Country Band Perf

By Ernest Leong
Washington, DC
12 February 2007
 
watch Second Amendment¹ report

For most of us who watch the evening news, our perceptions of how a politician should look and behave is well set in our minds.  It is a carefully tailored image promoted by their campaign ads and their political party. Here's the story of five U.S. Congressmen who do not fit the stereotype² as they share their common love of music with others.  VOA's Ernest Leong has more.

 
Republican Congressman³ Jon Porter
Life for a U.S. Congressman is often a busy one.  Whether visiting a disaster area halfway⁴ around the world, or voting on bills back in Washington...

Congress in session: "The unfinished business is the question on adoption⁵ of the conference report NHR 5682, on which the yays and nays⁶ are ordered."

... it is a life on the run, and under constant public scrutiny⁷.

But one night a week, after the day's debating and voting is done, five Congressmen meet in a cramped⁸ room, to live out their dreams...

 
Democratic Congressman Collin Peterson
Democratic Congressman Collin Peterson of Minnesota sings lead for the band. "Dre-e-am, dream, dream, dream..."

... of becoming rock stars.  They call themselves the Second Amendments⁹, so named because the original group, the Amendments, broke up in the mid-1990s.

The Second Amendments have gone on tour, playing at events such as Farm Aid in Minnesota last year.

Peterson explains, "But we are the Second Amendments.  We're five members of Congress, that are a little bipartisan, like to have fun once in awhile."

And fun is the top priority for the Second Amendments -- not politics.  Republican Congressmen Kenny Hulshof of Missouri and Jon Porter of Nevada:

 
Republican Congressman Kenny Hulshof
Congressman Hulshof says the band is not about politics. "Our slogan, if there is a slogan, is -- no politics, just rock 'n' roll."

Congressman Porter agrees, "We also play for each other.  As far as politics, the one thing we will do is help each other's campaigns."

In a lighter¹⁰ "political" moment, Michigan Republican Thaddeus McCotter offered his thoughts on why four out of five band members are Republicans. "But it [the Republican majority] does represent the proportional talent on either side of the aisle¹¹."

The band members like to play rock and country standards, mostly from the 1960s and '70s...

Peterson (singing): "Don't the girls all get prettier at closing time?"

... and their songs have been well-received, both at home, and abroad.  The Second Amendments played for the U.S. troops in Kuwait, and Iraq, where they came under fire.

 
Republican Thaddeus McCotter
Republican Representative Dave Weldon from Florida jokes, "We did get mortared [in Iraq] -- five rounds.  Five members of the band, five rounds...  well, we believe it was the enemy."

In the political arena¹², politicians are expected to speak out on issues big and small.  But for a few moments, whether in this tiny room or on a huge sound stage, these five politicians have found a way to reach the public with their love of music.

"Thank you all so much.  Thank you for supporting Willy and Farm Aid.  Thanks from the Second Amendments," kids Congressman Peterson.

1 amendment   

n.改正，修正，改善，修正案

参考例句：

• The amendment was rejected by 207 voters to 143.这项修正案以207票对143票被否决。
• The Opposition has tabled an amendment to the bill.反对党已经就该议案提交了一项修正条款。

2 stereotype   

n.固定的形象，陈规，老套，旧框框

参考例句：

• He's my stereotype of a schoolteacher.他是我心目中的典型教师。
• There's always been a stereotype about successful businessmen.人们对于成功商人一直都有一种固定印象。

3 Congressman   

n.（美）国会议员

参考例句：

• He related several anecdotes about his first years as a congressman.他讲述自己初任议员那几年的几则轶事。
• The congressman is meditating a reply to his critics.这位国会议员正在考虑给他的批评者一个答复。

4 halfway   

adj.中途的，不彻底的，部分的；adv.半路地，在中途，在半途

参考例句：

• We had got only halfway when it began to get dark.走到半路，天就黑了。
• In study the worst danger is give up halfway.在学习上，最忌讳的是有始无终。

5 adoption   

n.采用，采纳，通过；收养

参考例句：

• An adoption agency had sent the boys to two different families.一个收养机构把他们送给两个不同的家庭。
• The adoption of this policy would relieve them of a tremendous burden.采取这一政策会给他们解除一个巨大的负担。

6 nays   

n.反对票，投反对票者( nay的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The tally was two ayes and three nays. 投票结果是两票赞成，三票反对。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The tally was three yeas and two nays, so the yeas have it. 投票结果是三票赞成两票反对，投赞成票者胜利。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

7 scrutiny   

n.详细检查，仔细观察

参考例句：

• His work looks all right,but it will not bear scrutiny.他的工作似乎很好，但是经不起仔细检查。
• Few wives in their forties can weather such a scrutiny.很少年过四十的妻子经得起这么仔细的观察。

8 cramped   

a.狭窄的

参考例句：

• The house was terribly small and cramped, but the agent described it as a bijou residence. 房子十分狭小拥挤，但经纪人却把它说成是小巧别致的住宅。
• working in cramped conditions 在拥挤的环境里工作

9 amendments   

（法律、文件的）改动( amendment的名词复数 )； 修正案； 修改； （美国宪法的）修正案

参考例句：

• The committee does not adequately consult others when drafting amendments. 委员会在起草修正案时没有充分征求他人的意见。
• Please propose amendments and addenda to the first draft of the document. 请对这个文件的初稿提出修改和补充意见。

10 lighter   

n.打火机，点火器；驳船；v.用驳船运送；light的比较级

参考例句：

• The portrait was touched up so as to make it lighter.这张画经过润色，色调明朗了一些。
• The lighter works off the car battery.引燃器利用汽车蓄电池打火。

11 aisle   

n.（教堂、教室、戏院等里的）过道，通道

参考例句：

• The aisle was crammed with people.过道上挤满了人。
• The girl ushered me along the aisle to my seat.引座小姐带领我沿着通道到我的座位上去。

12 arena   

n.竞技场，运动场所；竞争场所，舞台

参考例句：

• She entered the political arena at the age of 25. 她25岁进入政界。
• He had not an adequate arena for the exercise of his talents.他没有充分发挥其才能的场所。