2007年VOA标准英语-Lawmakers Urge End to Political Briefings for U

By Deborah Tate
Capitol Hill
25 July 2007

U.S. lawmakers are urging the Bush administration to stop giving political briefings to U.S. diplomats¹ out of concern it could politically taint² the nation's diplomatic agencies.   The Washington Post newspaper this week reported that White House aides have conducted such hearings since 2001.  VOA's Deborah Tate reports from Capitol Hill.

The Washington Post reports that White House aides have conducted at least half a dozen political briefings for top U.S. diplomats.  

The briefings included a presentation for ambassadors with senior adviser³ Karl Rove that named Democratic incumbents⁵ targeted for defeat in 2008, and a briefing at Peace Corps⁶ headquarters after the 2002 midterm elections.

Senator Chris Dodd, a Connecticut Democrat⁴, expressed concern Wednesday that the briefings could harm the standing⁷ of the U.S. diplomatic corps in the world.

Senator Christopher Dodd, 26 April 2007 file photo

"We have a reputation, and we have built a good one over the years, and to have it soiled, because people want to build it into a political operation is something I am not going to tolerate at all," he said.

The Washington Post cited documents obtained from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee saying the briefings included analyses of the political landscape surrounding key congressional and gubernatorial races.  The newspaper said the documents highlight how the White House sought to ensure that political appointees involved in foreign policy were kept apprised⁸ of administration election goals.

Senator Joe Biden of Delaware, the Democratic chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, has sent a letter to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, asking whether the briefings inappropriately politicize the diplomatic agencies or violate bans on political work by most federal employees.

The top Republican on the panel, Senator Richard Lugar of Indiana, urged the White House to end the briefings during a committee hearing Tuesday.

"I would hope that perhaps the administration would cease and desist from that," he said.

At a Foreign Relations Committee hearing on the Peace Corps budget Wednesday, agency director Ronald Tschetter confirmed that a political briefing occurred at Peace Corps headquarters in 2003, with about 15 political appointees attending.

Although he said attendance at the briefing was voluntary, Tschetter did question its appropriateness:

"I would not encourage that to take place, no," he explained.

Senator Dodd, who himself served in the Peace Corps in the Dominican Republic in the 1960s, urged Tschetter to take action on the issue.

"I am deeply, deeply, troubled by it, and would hope that there would be some directive from you to Peace Corps staff and others admonishing⁹ anyone from engaging in political activities like this, particularly on Peace Corps property," he added.  "The reputation of this institution suffers when that happens."

David Kotz, inspector¹⁰ general of the Peace Corps, told the committee that the office of special counsel is investigating.

The White House played down lawmakers' concerns.  Spokesman Tony Snow told reporters that it is perfectly¹¹ legitimate¹² for the White House to brief appointees on its goals and objectives.

1 diplomats   

n.外交官( diplomat的名词复数 )；有手腕的人，善于交际的人

参考例句：

• These events led to the expulsion of senior diplomats from the country. 这些事件导致一些高级外交官被驱逐出境。
• The court has no jurisdiction over foreign diplomats living in this country. 法院对驻本国的外交官无裁判权。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 taint   

n.污点；感染；腐坏；v.使感染；污染

参考例句：

• Everything possible should be done to free them from the economic taint.应尽可能把他们从经济的腐蚀中解脱出来。
• Moral taint has spread among young people.道德的败坏在年轻人之间蔓延。

3 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。

4 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。

5 incumbents   

教区牧师( incumbent的名词复数 )； 教会中的任职者

参考例句：

• In general, incumbents have a 94 percent chance of being reelected. 通常现任官员有94%的几率会再次当选。
• This arangement yields a wonderful gain to incumbents. 这种安排为在职人员提供了意外的得益。

6 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。

7 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。

8 apprised   

v.告知，通知( apprise的过去式和过去分词 )；评价

参考例句：

• We were fully apprised of the situation. 我们完全获悉当时的情况。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• I have apprised him of your arrival. 我已经告诉他你要来。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

9 admonishing   

v.劝告( admonish的现在分词 )；训诫；（温和地）责备；轻责

参考例句：

• It is waste of time, admonishing you. 劝告你简直是浪费工夫。 来自辞典例句
• To date, the Doctrine of Cheng Fu still exerts its admonishing effect. 时至今日，承负说仍具有警示作用。 来自互联网

10 inspector   

n.检查员，监察员，视察员

参考例句：

• The inspector was interested in everything pertaining to the school.视察员对有关学校的一切都感兴趣。
• The inspector was shining a flashlight onto the tickets.查票员打着手电筒查看车票。

11 perfectly   

adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地

参考例句：

• The witnesses were each perfectly certain of what they said.证人们个个对自己所说的话十分肯定。
• Everything that we're doing is all perfectly above board.我们做的每件事情都是光明正大的。

12 legitimate   

adj.合法的，合理的，合乎逻辑的；v.使合法

参考例句：

• Sickness is a legitimate reason for asking for leave.生病是请假的一个正当的理由。
• That's a perfectly legitimate fear.怀有这种恐惧完全在情理之中。