VOA标准英语2009年-Republicans Choose First African-American as Pa

U.S. Republicans have elected the first African-American to head their party's national committee. Top Republicans from around the country chose former Maryland Lieutenant-Governor Michael Steele to be the next chairman of the Republican National Committee.
　
Former Maryland Lt. Gov. Michael Steele speaks after being elected first black RNC chairman at Party's winter meetings in Washington DC, 30 Jan. 2009

Steele is the first black American to hold the post and he will now become a leading spokesman and candidate recruiter as Republicans try to recover after losing the presidency¹ in November and losing their majorities in both chambers² of Congress in 2006.

Steele beat out four challengers including the incumbent³ Republican chairman, Mike Duncan, and Steele vowed⁴ to bring change to the Republican Party.

"To those who support us, to those who believe in the ideals and those conservative principles that have made us the strong and proud party that we are, to Americans who believe in the future of this country, to those who stand in difference with us - it is time for something completely different, and we are going to bring it to them," he said.

Steele promised to reach out to voters who have been turned off by Republican candidates and Republican themes in recent elections, and to broaden the base of a party that has narrowed in recent years.

"We are going to bring this party to every corner, every boardroom, every neighborhood, every community, and we are going to say to friend and foe⁵ alike, we want you to be a part of us, we want you to work with us," he said. "And for those of you who wish to obstruct⁶, get ready to get knocked over."

Steele has the difficult job of trying to rebuild a dispirited Republican Party following President Barack Obama's victory in November over John McCain and Democratic gains in Congress in the past two election cycles.

Democrats⁷ gained majorities in both the Senate and House of Representatives in 2006 and expanded those majorities in the November elections.

1 presidency   

n.总统(校长，总经理)的职位(任期)

参考例句：

• Roosevelt was elected four times to the presidency of the United States.罗斯福连续当选四届美国总统。
• Two candidates are emerging as contestants for the presidency.两位候选人最终成为总统职位竞争者。

2 chambers   

n.房间( chamber的名词复数 )；（议会的）议院；卧室；会议厅

参考例句：

• The body will be removed into one of the cold storage chambers. 尸体将被移到一个冷冻间里。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Mr Chambers's readable book concentrates on the middle passage: the time Ransome spent in Russia. Chambers先生的这本值得一看的书重点在中间：Ransome在俄国的那几年。 来自互联网

3 incumbent   

adj.成为责任的，有义务的；现任的，在职的

参考例句：

• He defeated the incumbent governor by a large plurality.他以压倒多数票击败了现任州长。
• It is incumbent upon you to warn them.你有责任警告他们。

4 vowed   

起誓，发誓（vow的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• He vowed quite solemnly that he would carry out his promise. 他非常庄严地发誓要实现他的诺言。
• I vowed to do more of the cooking myself. 我发誓自己要多动手做饭。

5 foe   

n.敌人，仇敌

参考例句：

• He knew that Karl could be an implacable foe.他明白卡尔可能会成为他的死敌。
• A friend is a friend;a foe is a foe;one must be clearly distinguished from the other.敌是敌，友是友，必须分清界限。

6 obstruct   

v.阻隔，阻塞(道路、通道等)；n.阻碍物，障碍物

参考例句：

• He became still more dissatisfied with it and secretly did everything in his power to obstruct it.他对此更不满意，尽在暗里使绊子。
• The fallen trees obstruct the road.倒下的树将路堵住了。

7 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》