VOA标准英语2010年-Obama Looks for Common Ground With Rep

President Barack Obama speaks to members of the National Governors Association at the White House, 22 Feb. 2010

President Barack Obama has invited congressional Republicans to a meeting Thursday on health care reform, his latest effort at cultivating bipartisanship in Washington.  But 2010 is a congressional election year in the United States, and both political parties seem more focused on winning House and Senate seats in November than working together. 

Political infighting and polarization in the U.S. have become intense over the last  year.

It's gotten so bad that some lawmakers have decided¹ to retire rather than stand for re-election in November.

"I love working for the people of Indiana," Democratic Senator Evan Bayh of Indiana said. "I love helping² our citizens make the most of their lives.  But I do not love Congress.  Even in a time of enormous national challenge, the people's business is not getting done." 

 

Recent public opinion polls show large majorities of Americans either dissatisfied or angry about the state of politics in Washington.

The issue came up during President Obama's recent appearance before House Republicans in Baltimore.

"They didn't send us to Washington to fight each other in some sort of steel-cage match to see who comes out alive.  That is not what they want.  They sent us to Washington to work together, to get things done and to solve the problems that they are grappling with every single day," Mr. Obama said.

Republicans blame Democrats³ for the gridlock, claiming that Democratic leaders in Congress routinely ignore their proposals.

"Mr. President, multiple times from your administration there have come statements that Republicans have no ideas and no solutions," Georgia Congressman⁴ Tom Price stated.

Historian Matt Dallek with the Bipartisan Policy Center says there is no shortage of reasons for the political dysfunction. "Whether you are talking about the 24-7 media environment, (congressional) redistricting, you know,  the influence of money in politics, and I think what you are seeing in a sense is a deepening and a coarsening that is decades in the making," he said.

It wasn't always this way, says former congressman Bob Edgar.

"The system has become too partisan," Bob Edgar said. "When I served in Congress, nothing got passed without Democrats and Republicans working together."  Edgar is president of Common Cause, a Washington-based group. It seeks to hold government accountable to the public interest.

Edgar says lawmakers from different parties today show little interest in working together, unlike his experience in the 1970's and 1980's. "And I think it is a good reminder⁵ that there were times in our history where party politics ended the day of the election, and you moved into a system where you actually served the public's interest," he said. 

Polls show the public shares the disillusionment with Washington expressed by Senator Bayh.  

Still, Bob Edgar urges Americans to be optimistic. "I thank Evan for his willingness to step up and speak out.  I thank him for stepping aside to let somebody else come in.  But I would urge us not to get so cynical⁶ that the system can't be improved," Edgar said.

But that may prove difficult this year with the Republicans recently winning an upset victory in the Massachusetts Senate race and poised⁷ to win even more seats in November's midterm elections. 

 

1 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

2 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。

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 Congressman   

n.（美）国会议员

参考例句：

• He related several anecdotes about his first years as a congressman.他讲述自己初任议员那几年的几则轶事。
• The congressman is meditating a reply to his critics.这位国会议员正在考虑给他的批评者一个答复。

5 reminder   

n.提醒物，纪念品；暗示，提示

参考例句：

• I have had another reminder from the library.我又收到图书馆的催还单。
• It always took a final reminder to get her to pay her share of the rent.总是得发给她一份最后催缴通知，她才付应该交的房租。

6 cynical   

adj.(对人性或动机)怀疑的，不信世道向善的

参考例句：

• The enormous difficulty makes him cynical about the feasibility of the idea.由于困难很大，他对这个主意是否可行持怀疑态度。
• He was cynical that any good could come of democracy.他不相信民主会带来什么好处。

7 poised   

a.摆好姿势不动的

参考例句：

• The hawk poised in mid-air ready to swoop. 老鹰在半空中盘旋，准备俯冲。
• Tina was tense, her hand poised over the telephone. 蒂娜心情紧张，手悬在电话机上。