VOA标准英语2008年-After Securing Democratic Nomination, Obama Fac

By Michael Bowman
Washington
04 June 2008

Late Tuesday, Illinois Senator Barack Obama made history as the first African American to win the presidential nomination¹ of a major U.S. political party, becoming the presumptive Democratic standard bearer. But rival Senator Hillary Clinton has yet to formally recognize Obama's victory, and Clinton's political allies have launched an effort to pressure Obama to pick her as a running mate. From Washington, VOA's Michael Bowman reports.
　

Michelle Obama smiles at her husband Democratic presidential candidate, Barack Obama, after his speech at a primary night rally, 3 June 2008, in St. Paul, Minnesota

Throughout America's history, only whites have risen to become presidential nominees³ of the Democratic and Republican parties - until now. In a nation that once enslaved black people and where segregation⁴ by race persisted for nearly a century thereafter, the son of a Kenyan immigrant will head the Democratic ticket in the November election.

Moments after securing enough delegates for the nomination, Barack Obama addressed supporters in St. Paul, Minnesota.

"Tonight we mark the end of one historic journey with the beginning of another: a journey that will bring a new and better day to America," he said. "Because of you, tonight I can stand here and say that I will be the Democratic nominee² for president of the United States."

Moments earlier, a seemingly defiant⁵ Hillary Clinton made no mention of Obama's accomplishment⁶ in a speech to supporters in New York. Clinton, who finished the race trailing Obama by about 100 pledged delegates, but virtually tied in the popular vote, said the 18 million people who cast ballots⁷ for her should be, as she put it, "respected."
　

Hillary Rodham Clinton speaks during a primary night event in New York, 3 June 2008

"Now the question is, where do we go from here? And, given how far we have come and where we need to go as a party, it is a question I do not take lightly," she said. "This has been a long campaign, and I will be making no decisions tonight."

Earlier in the day, Clinton was quoted by supporters as saying she would be open to serving as Obama's vice⁸ presidential nominee. Even as Democratic Party elders and elected officials rushed to endorse⁹ Obama Tuesday, many who had earlier supported Clinton told reporters they believe the Illinois Senator should pick Clinton as his running mate to help unify¹⁰ the party after an often-bruising primary campaign.

Obama and Clinton spoke¹¹ briefly¹² by telephone early Wednesday. Aides say the senators agreed on the need for a face-to-face meeting, but that no specifics were discussed.

Speaking on CBS TV's The Early Show, Obama spokesman Robert Gibbs said talk of the vice presidential selection is premature¹³.
　

Barack Obama speaks to supporters in St. Paul, Minnesota, 3 Jun 2008

"We just passed the delegate threshold to be the nominee only a few hours ago," he said. "The vice presidential process is obviously going to begin in much more earnest today and throughout the coming days. Obviously we are going to take that process very, very seriously."

Gibbs added that he is confident that Democrats¹⁴ will unite to win the general election.

On the Republican side, Arizona Senator John McCain became his party's presumptive nominee months ago. In a speech in New Orleans, McCain acknowledged Obama's nomination victory, but suggested the Illinois senator's program represents, as he put it, "the wrong change" for America.

1 nomination   

n.提名，任命，提名权

参考例句：

• John is favourite to get the nomination for club president.约翰最有希望被提名为俱乐部主席。
• Few people pronounced for his nomination.很少人表示赞成他的提名。

2 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。

3 nominees   

n.被提名者，被任命者( nominee的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• She's one of the nominees. 她是被提名者之一。 来自超越目标英语 第2册
• A startling number of his nominees for senior positions have imploded. 他所提名的高级官员被否决的数目令人震惊。 来自互联网

4 segregation   

n.隔离，种族隔离

参考例句：

• Many school boards found segregation a hot potato in the early 1960s.在60年代初，许多学校部门都觉得按水平分班是一个棘手的问题。
• They were tired to death of segregation and of being kicked around.他们十分厌恶种族隔离和总是被人踢来踢去。

5 defiant   

adj.无礼的，挑战的

参考例句：

• With a last defiant gesture,they sang a revolutionary song as they were led away to prison.他们被带走投入监狱时，仍以最后的反抗姿态唱起了一支革命歌曲。
• He assumed a defiant attitude toward his employer.他对雇主采取挑衅的态度。

6 accomplishment   

n.完成，成就，（pl.）造诣，技能

参考例句：

• The series of paintings is quite an accomplishment.这一系列的绘画真是了不起的成就。
• Money will be crucial to the accomplishment of our objectives.要实现我们的目标，钱是至关重要的。

7 ballots   

n.投票表决( ballot的名词复数 )；选举；选票；投票总数v.（使）投票表决( ballot的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• They're counting the ballots. 他们正在计算选票。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The news of rigged ballots has rubbed off much of the shine of their election victory. 他们操纵选票的消息使他们在选举中获得的胜利大为减色。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

9 endorse   

vt.(支票、汇票等)背书，背署；批注；同意

参考例句：

• No one is foolish enough to endorse it.没有哪个人会傻得赞成它。
• I fully endorse your opinions on this subject.我完全拥护你对此课题的主张。

10 unify   

vt.使联合，统一；使相同，使一致

参考例句：

• How can we unify such scattered islands into a nation?我们怎么才能把如此分散的岛屿统一成一个国家呢？
• It is difficult to imagine how the North and South could ever agree on a formula to unify the divided peninsula.很难想象南北双方在统一半岛的方案上究竟怎样才能达成一致。

11 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

12 briefly   

adv.简单地，简短地

参考例句：

• I want to touch briefly on another aspect of the problem.我想简单地谈一下这个问题的另一方面。
• He was kidnapped and briefly detained by a terrorist group.他被一个恐怖组织绑架并短暂拘禁。

13 premature   

adj.比预期时间早的；不成熟的，仓促的

参考例句：

• It is yet premature to predict the possible outcome of the dialogue.预言这次对话可能有什么结果为时尚早。
• The premature baby is doing well.那个早产的婴儿很健康。

14 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》