VOA标准英语2008年-Obama Hits McCain as 'Out of Touch' on Financia

Both presidential candidates, Democrat¹ Barack Obama and Republican John McCain have seized on the U.S. financial crisis to try to make their case to voters on who can best turn the economy around. As VOA Correspondent Cindy Saine reports from Washington, Senator McCain found himself on the defensive² for remarks he made Monday saying "the fundamentals of the economy are strong."
　
Sen. Barack Obama speaks during a rally in Grand Junction³, Colorado, 15 Sept 2008

Barack Obama has had a couple of rough weeks on the campaign trail, with his rival John McCain surging in the polls amid broad fascination⁴ with McCain's pick for vice⁵ president, Alaska Governor Sarah Palin. But speaking at a rally in Golden, Colorado, Obama seemed to sense a "golden" opportunity to paint his rival as out of touch on the economy.

"We are in the most serious financial crisis in generations," he said. "Yet, Senator McCain stood up yesterday and said that the fundamentals of the economy are strong. Now, a few hours later his campaign sent him back out to clean up his remarks."

McCain appeared on several morning television shows Tuesday, saying there is indeed a financial crisis, and that to better understand it the United States should create an independent, high-level commission to study what caused it, similar to the September 11th Commission on the terrorist attacks.

Obama dismissed the commission idea, saying "we know how we got into this mess." The Democratic nominee⁶ lays the blame squarely on the Republican Party's philosophy of deregulation and what he describes as "trickle⁷ down" economic policies that he says benefit the wealthiest Americans and big corporations, while doing nothing for the struggling middle-class.
　
Sen. John McCain smiles to an enthusiastic crowd during a rally at the Tampa Convention Center in Tampa, Florida, 16 Sept. 2008

For his part, McCain took a more populist approach than he has in the past in describing the roots of the current crisis. Speaking in Tampa, Florida, McCain said he and his running mate are the true reformers.

"We are going to put an end to the reckless conduct, corruption⁸, and unbridled greed that have caused a crisis on Wall Street," he said. "We are going to put a stop to it."

McCain also joined Obama in calling for tougher government regulation of Wall Street.

"People have a right to know when their jobs, pensions, investments and our whole economy are being put at risk by the recklessness of Wall Street and under my reforms for the financial sector⁹, that fundamental right will be and must be protected," he said.

Obama questioned McCain's sudden embrace of tougher government regulation of Wall Street institutions.

"Make no mistake, my opponent is running for four more years of policies that will throw the economy further out of balance," he said. "His outrage¹⁰ at Wall Street would be more convincing if wasn't offering them more tax cuts."

McCain' campaign says that his proposals to cut taxes on investors¹¹ and businesses and to expand trade will boost the economy, while Obama's proposals to raise taxes on top earners and corporations will hurt the economy.

 

1 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。

2 defensive   

adj.防御的；防卫的；防守的

参考例句：

• Their questions about the money put her on the defensive.他们问到钱的问题，使她警觉起来。
• The Government hastily organized defensive measures against the raids.政府急忙布置了防卫措施抵御空袭。

3 junction   

n.连接，接合；交叉点，接合处，枢纽站

参考例句：

• There's a bridge at the junction of the two rivers.两河的汇合处有座桥。
• You must give way when you come to this junction.你到了这个路口必须让路。

4 fascination   

n.令人着迷的事物，魅力，迷恋

参考例句：

• He had a deep fascination with all forms of transport.他对所有的运输工具都很着迷。
• His letters have been a source of fascination to a wide audience.广大观众一直迷恋于他的来信。

5 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。

6 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。

7 trickle   

vi.淌，滴，流出，慢慢移动，逐渐消散

参考例句：

• The stream has thinned down to a mere trickle.这条小河变成细流了。
• The flood of cars has now slowed to a trickle.汹涌的车流现在已经变得稀稀拉拉。

8 corruption   

n.腐败，堕落，贪污

参考例句：

• The people asked the government to hit out against corruption and theft.人民要求政府严惩贪污盗窃。
• The old man reviled against corruption.那老人痛斥了贪污舞弊。

9 sector   

n.部门，部分；防御地段，防区；扇形

参考例句：

• The export sector will aid the economic recovery. 出口产业将促进经济复苏。
• The enemy have attacked the British sector.敌人已进攻英国防区。

10 outrage   

n.暴行，侮辱，愤怒；vt.凌辱，激怒

参考例句：

• When he heard the news he reacted with a sense of outrage.他得悉此事时义愤填膺。
• We should never forget the outrage committed by the Japanese invaders.我们永远都不应该忘记日本侵略者犯下的暴行。

11 investors   

n.投资者，出资者( investor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• a con man who bilked investors out of millions of dollars 诈取投资者几百万元的骗子
• a cash bonanza for investors 投资者的赚钱机会