2007年VOA标准英语-US Republican Presidential Contenders Seek Supp

By Jim Malone
Washington
21 September 2007

Republican presidential contenders appealed for support Friday from an influential¹ conservative group in Washington, the National Rifle Association. But as National correspondent Jim Malone reports, some uninvited protesters made sure the candidates would not forget about the war in Iraq.

The National Rifle Association is one of the most powerful lobbying groups in Washington, boasting an active membership of more than four million members who are not shy about urging Congress to defend the rights of gun owners.

Gun enthusiasts² and hunters tend to vote Republican, and with than in mind, several Republican presidential hopefuls made their way to an NRA conference in Washington to make a pitch for support.

"So, it is not just a matter of promises made, as far as I am concerned, it is a matter of commitments that have been kept," said former Senator Fred Thompson of Tennessee.

Thompson said he has a strong record of defending the right to bear arms, a contrast with some of the other Republican contenders who have had their differences with the gun lobby over the years.

Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani has angered gun owners in the past with his support of some gun control measures. But Giuliani based his pitch for support on polls that show he would run a strong race against Senator Hillary Clinton if she is the Democratic Party's presidential nominee³ next year.

"You have to look at the overall candidate and then, I think, depending on the views that you have, you have to figure out who is electable, who can win," he said. "Because if we make a mistake about that, this country is going to go very much in the direction that I think you and I disagree with."

Democrats⁴ have made little headway in recent years in winning over gun rights supporters at election time.

The only Democratic presidential contender who addressed the NRA conference was New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson, who appeared in a videotaped message.

"I have a long record as a congressman⁵ and governor as a defender⁶ of the rights of citizens to own guns," he said. "You may have heard that I not only supported New Mexico's concealed⁷ [weapons] carry law, I have a permit myself."

At one point, anti-war protesters made their presence known when they interrupted remarks on Iraq by another Republican presidential hopeful, Senator John McCain of Arizona.

"We cannot choose to lose in Iraq, and I will not choose to lose," McCain said.

"We want the troops home and no war with Iran," said the protesters.

"We will not choose to lose. We will not choose to lose this conflict," he responded.

McCain is the most vocal⁸ Republican candidate in support of President Bush's military surge strategy in Iraq and he opposes Democratic attempts to set a timeline for the withdrawal⁹ of U.S. troops.

McCain also has a history of conflict with the NRA gun lobby. Gun advocates say his sponsorship of a campaign finance reform law has unfairly limited the amount of money they can donate to politicians who support their cause.

A new poll in California shows Giuliani leading the Republican race in that state with 22 percent support, with Thompson, McCain and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt¹⁰ Romney virtually tied for second place at about 16 percent each. The California poll generally reflects the trend seen in national surveys

1 influential   

adj.有影响的，有权势的

参考例句：

• He always tries to get in with the most influential people.他总是试图巴结最有影响的人物。
• He is a very influential man in the government.他在政府中是个很有影响的人物。

2 enthusiasts   

n.热心人，热衷者( enthusiast的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• A group of enthusiasts have undertaken the reconstruction of a steam locomotive. 一群火车迷已担负起重造蒸汽机车的任务。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Now a group of enthusiasts are going to have the plane restored. 一群热心人计划修复这架飞机。 来自新概念英语第二册

3 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。

4 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》

5 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。

6 defender   

n.保卫者，拥护者，辩护人

参考例句：

• He shouldered off a defender and shot at goal.他用肩膀挡开防守队员，然后射门。
• The defender argued down the prosecutor at the court.辩护人在法庭上驳倒了起诉人。

7 concealed   

a.隐藏的，隐蔽的

参考例句：

• The paintings were concealed beneath a thick layer of plaster. 那些画被隐藏在厚厚的灰泥层下面。
• I think he had a gun concealed about his person. 我认为他当时身上藏有一支枪。

8 vocal   

adj.直言不讳的；嗓音的；n.[pl.]声乐节目

参考例句：

• The tongue is a vocal organ.舌头是一个发音器官。
• Public opinion at last became vocal.终于舆论哗然。

9 withdrawal   

n.取回，提款；撤退，撤军；收回，撤销

参考例句：

• The police were forced to make a tactical withdrawal.警方被迫进行战术撤退。
• They insisted upon a withdrawal of the statement and a public apology.他们坚持要收回那些话并公开道歉。

10 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。