VOA标准英语2008年-Obama Speaks in Berlin, McCain Focuses on Econo

Democratic presidential contender Barack Obama spoke¹ before tens of thousands of people in the German capital of Berlin Thursday, the most dramatic moment yet in his tour of the Middle East and Europe. Obama's international trip has received worldwide attention and left his Republican opponent, Senator John McCain, searching for ways to get his message out. VOA National correspondent Jim Malone has more from Washington.

Senator Obama's speech had all the trappings of a presidential address, except for the fact that Obama won't even become the official Democratic nominee² for president until next month.

"People of Berlin, people of the world," said Barack Obama. "This is our moment. This is our time."

Obama's speech in Berlin was billed as a highlight of an international trip that has already taken him to Afghanistan, Iraq, Jordan and Israel, a sort of introductory world tour for a man who might become the next president of the United States.

"We have made our share of mistakes, and there are times when our actions around the world have not lived up to our best intentions," he said. "But I also know how much I love America."

Democrats³ hope the trip will bolster⁴ public confidence in Obama's ability to handle foreign policy and national security issues, an area where the public seems to have more confidence in Obama's Republican opponent, Senator John McCain.

A statement from the McCain campaign said Obama took a premature⁵ victory lap in Berlin by proclaiming himself a citizen of the world, and it went on to say that the Republican candidate will continue to make his case to the American citizens who will decide the election.

McCain was asked about the Obama speech during a campaign stop in Ohio.

"I would love to give a speech in Germany, a political speech or a speech that maybe the German people would be interested in," McCain said. "But I would much prefer to do it as President of the United States."

The Berlin speech was also an opportunity for Obama to outline his own worldview and the type of foreign policy he would pursue if he wins the White House in November.

"People of Berlin and people of the world, the scale of our challenge is great," said Obama. "The road ahead will be long. But I come before you to say that we are heirs to a struggle for freedom. We are a people of improbable hope with an eye towards future, with resolve in our heart. Let us remember this history, and answer our destiny and remake the world once again."

Obama also made clear that human rights would be a top concern of his administration should he win the election.

"Will we extend our hand to the peoples in the forgotten corners of this world who yearn⁶ for lives marked by dignity and opportunity, security and justice? Will we lift the child in Bangladesh from poverty and shelter the refugee in Chad, and banish⁷ the scourge⁸ of AIDS in our time? Will we stand for the human rights of the dissident in Burma, the blogger in Iran or the voter in Zimbabwe? Will we give meaning to the words, never again in Darfur?" he asked.

Obama's Republican opponent, Senator John McCain, opted⁹ for a low-key campaign day in Ohio, apparently¹⁰ figuring it would be difficult to compete with the images of Obama addressing a huge crowd in Berlin.

The McCain campaign tried to focus on domestic issues as aide Nancy Pfotenhauer briefed reporters on the senator's plans to bring down high fuel prices, a key concern for voters in the latest public opinion polls.

"We want to bring your attention to the fact that Senator McCain is spending his time talking about how to solve the real problems that Americans are facing right now, most particularly today we are focused on the real problems that people are struggling with due to the high gas prices," she said.

Republicans have also complained that the extensive news media coverage¹¹ of the Obama trip has been unfair and has overshadowed McCain's efforts to focus on domestic economic issues.

Meanwhile, the latest polls show the presidential race remains¹² relatively¹³ close even with all the attention Obama is getting on his overseas trip.

A new NBC News Wall Street Journal poll has Obama leading McCain 47 to 41 percent. But the survey also found that 55 percent saw Obama as the riskier¹⁴ choice in the election, compared with 35 percent who thought McCain was riskier.

Recent polls in several key states, such as Colorado, Michigan and Minnesota also show McCain gaining on Obama.

 

 

 

 

1 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。

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 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》

4 bolster   

n.枕垫；v.支持，鼓励

参考例句：

• The high interest rates helped to bolster up the economy.高利率使经济更稳健。
• He tried to bolster up their morale.他尽力鼓舞他们的士气。

5 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。

6 yearn   

v.想念；怀念；渴望

参考例句：

• We yearn to surrender our entire being.我们渴望着放纵我们整个的生命。
• Many people living in big cities yearn for an idyllic country life.现在的很多都市人向往那种田园化的生活。

7 banish   

vt.放逐，驱逐；消除，排除

参考例句：

• The doctor advised her to banish fear and anxiety.医生劝她消除恐惧和忧虑。
• He tried to banish gloom from his thought.他试图驱除心中的忧愁。

8 scourge   

n.灾难，祸害；v.蹂躏

参考例句：

• Smallpox was once the scourge of the world.天花曾是世界的大患。
• The new boss was the scourge of the inefficient.新老板来了以后，不称职的人就遭殃了。

9 opted   

v.选择，挑选( opt的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• She was co-opted onto the board. 她获增选为董事会成员。
• After graduating she opted for a career in music. 毕业后她选择了从事音乐工作。

10 apparently   

adv.显然地；表面上，似乎

参考例句：

• An apparently blind alley leads suddenly into an open space.山穷水尽，豁然开朗。
• He was apparently much surprised at the news.他对那个消息显然感到十分惊异。

11 coverage   

n.报导，保险范围，保险额，范围，覆盖

参考例句：

• There's little coverage of foreign news in the newspaper.报纸上几乎没有国外新闻报道。
• This is an insurance policy with extensive coverage.这是一项承保范围广泛的保险。

12 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

13 relatively   

adv.比较...地，相对地

参考例句：

• The rabbit is a relatively recent introduction in Australia.兔子是相对较新引入澳大利亚的物种。
• The operation was relatively painless.手术相对来说不痛。

14 riskier   

冒险的，危险的( risky的比较级 )

参考例句：

• Now they are starting to demand higher returns on riskier assets. 而今他们开始在风险更高的资产上要求更高的回报。
• The problem with that: RIM's business is getting riskier every quarter. 不过问题也随之而来：RIM面临的业务风险正逐季增大。