VOA标准英语2009年-Obama Campaigns for Economic Stimulus Plan

U.S. President Barack Obama is back in campaign mode - traveling to regions hard-hit by the economic recession to rally support for his massive stimulus¹ plan. His first stop was in a town in American's heartland with one of the highest unemployment rates in the country.
　
President Barack Obama speaking at the Concord² Community High School in Elkhart, Indiana, 09 Feb 2009

In Elkhart, Indiana the unemployment rate stands at 15 percent, roughly twice the national average. The factories that have long sustained the area are closing, and families are worried about the future.

President Obama says Elkhart, and towns like it, provide the full measure of the economic crisis.

"We are talking about people who have lost their livelihood³ and do not know what will take its place," said President Obama. "We are talking about parents who have lost their health care and lie awake at night praying their kids do not get sick. We are talking about families who have lost the home that was the corner, the foundation for their American dream."

It was the president's first town hall style event since he took office. He took questions from members of the community and said Washington needs to listen to their concerns.

Mr. Obama said there has been a good debate in Congress on the stimulus bill, and now it is time to act.

"That is why I am calling on Congress to pass this bill immediately," said Mr. Obama. "Folks here in Elkhart and all across America need help right now, and they cannot afford to keep on waiting for folks in Washington to get this done."

The event in Elkhart gave President Obama an opportunity to move the focus from Washington, to the plight⁴ of those Americans struggling to deal with the current economic crisis. It put a face on the problem.

"President Obama, we welcome you to Elkhart with our whole hearts," said Helen Tastello.

Elkhart resident Helen Tastello wanted to know if any of the money in the stimulus package would come directly to her town.

The president said steps will be taken to make sure the public is informed every step of the way about where the funds are going and how they are being used.

"Look, we have got to get the bill passed, but we also have to make sure the money is well spent, which means we are doing some things that are unprecedented⁵ to make sure the money gets out quickly but it gets out wisely," said President Obama.

President Obama is expected to make many of the same points late Monday back in Washington when he goes before reporters for his first White House news conference. Then he goes back on the road with town meetings scheduled on Tuesday in Fort Myers, Florida and Thursday in Peoria, Illinois.

1 stimulus   

n.刺激，刺激物，促进因素，引起兴奋的事物

参考例句：

• Regard each failure as a stimulus to further efforts.把每次失利看成对进一步努力的激励。
• Light is a stimulus to growth in plants.光是促进植物生长的一个因素。

2 concord   

n.和谐；协调

参考例句：

• These states had lived in concord for centuries.这些国家几个世纪以来一直和睦相处。
• His speech did nothing for racial concord.他的讲话对种族和谐没有作用。

3 livelihood   

n.生计，谋生之道

参考例句：

• Appropriate arrangements will be made for their work and livelihood.他们的工作和生活会得到妥善安排。
• My father gained a bare livelihood of family by his own hands.父亲靠自己的双手勉强维持家计。

4 plight   

n.困境，境况，誓约，艰难；vt.宣誓，保证，约定

参考例句：

• The leader was much concerned over the plight of the refugees.那位领袖对难民的困境很担忧。
• She was in a most helpless plight.她真不知如何是好。

5 unprecedented   

adj.无前例的，新奇的

参考例句：

• The air crash caused an unprecedented number of deaths.这次空难的死亡人数是空前的。
• A flood of this sort is really unprecedented.这样大的洪水真是十年九不遇。