VOA标准英语2010年-Obama Pushes Themes of State of the Un

U.S. President Barack Obama is pushing the themes of his State of the Union address - seeking public support for his policies at a politically charged moment in Washington. 

American presidents typically take to the road on the day after the State of the Union.   In appearances in big cities and small towns, they seek to build momentum¹ for the policies and programs outlined in the annual address to Congress and the nation.

Thank you everybody! Hello Tampa!," said President Obama.

For President Obama, that meant a trip to Tampa, Florida where he made informal remarks and took questions at a local university.

He repeated the twin themes of the State of the Union, underscoring his determination to rebuild the economy, while at the same time overcoming "a deficit² of trust in Washington."

"We are not going to rest until we have rebuilt an economy in which hard work and responsibility are rewarded and businesses are hiring again and wages are growing again and the middle class can get its legs underneath³ it again!," said Mr. Obama.

The president stressed creating jobs is his number one priority for 2010.   And he focused on one effort in particular - a government program to invest $8 billion in start-up funds for high-speed rail projects around the country.   One of the first lines will link Tampa with other Florida cities - creating  new construction jobs while providing modern, more efficient infrastructure⁴.

"We want to start looking deep into the 21st century," said President Obama. "And we want to say to ourselves there is no reason why other countries can build high-speed rail lines and we can't!  And that is what is about to happen right here in Tampa!"

Most of the questions Mr. Obama faced during his appearance at the University of Tampa dealt with the economy and related issues.   But there was also an impassioned plea from a young woman for progress in the Middle East peace process and help for the Palestinian people.

The president did not refer to the Israeli-Palestinian dispute during his State of the Union address.  But in Tampa he spoke⁵ at some length about the long, complicated search for peace.  He talked about America's links to Israel, but added the United States must pay attention to the plight⁶ of the Palestinians.

"We have got to recognize that both the Palestinian people and Israelis have legitimate⁷ aspirations⁸ and they can be best served if the United States is helping⁹ them understand each other, as opposed to demonizing each other," said Mr. Obama.

On Friday, the president will continue his post-State of the Union push with a series of appearances in Baltimore, Maryland.   He will promote his policies to help small businesses, and will also address a gathering¹⁰ of Republican members of the House of Representatives.

1 momentum   

n.动力，冲力，势头；动量

参考例句：

• We exploit the energy and momentum conservation laws in this way.我们就是这样利用能量和动量守恒定律的。
• The law of momentum conservation could supplant Newton's third law.动量守恒定律可以取代牛顿第三定律。

2 deficit   

n.亏空，亏损；赤字，逆差

参考例句：

• The directors have reported a deficit of 2.5 million dollars.董事们报告赤字为250万美元。
• We have a great deficit this year.我们今年有很大亏损。

3 underneath   

adj.在...下面，在...底下；adv.在下面

参考例句：

• Working underneath the car is always a messy job.在汽车底下工作是件脏活。
• She wore a coat with a dress underneath.她穿着一件大衣，里面套着一条连衣裙。

4 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。

5 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。

6 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。

7 legitimate   

adj.合法的，合理的，合乎逻辑的；v.使合法

参考例句：

• Sickness is a legitimate reason for asking for leave.生病是请假的一个正当的理由。
• That's a perfectly legitimate fear.怀有这种恐惧完全在情理之中。

8 aspirations   

强烈的愿望( aspiration的名词复数 )； 志向； 发送气音； 发 h 音

参考例句：

• I didn't realize you had political aspirations. 我没有意识到你有政治上的抱负。
• The new treaty embodies the aspirations of most nonaligned countries. 新条约体现了大多数不结盟国家的愿望。

9 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

10 gathering   

n.集会，聚会，聚集

参考例句：

• He called on Mr. White to speak at the gathering.他请怀特先生在集会上讲话。
• He is on the wing gathering material for his novels.他正忙于为他的小说收集资料。