VOA标准英语2010年-Obama Promotes Health Care Reform in I

President Barack Obama traveled across the country Thursday to promote the landmark¹ health care reform plan he signed into law this week. His first stop was in Iowa City where he was met with support and opposition³.

In May 2007, then-presidential candidate Barack Obama announced his plan for health care reform at the University of Iowa's medical school in Iowa City. "As president, I will sign a universal health care plan into law by the end of my first term in office," he said.

Almost three years later, now-President Obama returned to Iowa City.  He spoke⁴ to an audience of more than 1,000 people as he came off a legislative⁵ victory that partially⁶ realized his goal.

"On Tuesday, after a year of debate and a century of trying, after so many of you shared your stories and your heartaches and your hopes, that promise was finally fulfilled.  And today, health insurance reform is the law of the land," he said.

The president's visit drew support and opposition to the new plan.

Opponents of health care reform held a series of protests and rallies to coincide with the president's visit.

Kyle Hoefling is an Obama opponent and Republican

Iowa National Guard veteran Kyle Hoefling took off from work to join a rally the night before Mr. Obama's visit.

"I guess I've always thought that health care was a personal responsibility.  And it just tears me up to see the solution that health care is expensive, so let's have somebody else pay for it," he said.

A goal of the rally was to gain support for local Republican candidates running in the November midterm elections.

A recent public opinion survey by Quinnipiac University shows that nearly half of all Americans say they disapprove⁷ of the new health care law, while 40 percent say they approve. 

Alan Bohanan is an Obama supporter and Democrat⁸

But Iowa Democrat Alan Bohanan says he does not think that the deeply divisive issue will lead to significant changes in the House of Representatives.

"It may cost one or two seats to be lost in tough districts, but I think once people really find out what this bill does and how good a job he's [i.e., President Obama] done and the Democrats⁹ have done, I think they may very well pick up some seats," he said.

Republican Kyle Hoefling disagrees. "I think there is going to be a price paid by anyone who voted for it or showed support for it," he said.

In his speech on Thursday, President Obama challenged those lawmakers who are campaigning to undo¹⁰ his signature domestic issue. "They're actually going to run on a platform of repeal¹¹ in November.  Well I say, 'Go for it,'" he said.

Obama supporter Alan Bohanan agrees with the president and says he does not think those efforts will win much support.

"Anybody who talks repeal of the health care reform at this point is asking to stop a lot of progress that should be done and is already in place," he said.

Opponents of the health care plan demonstrate in Iowa, 25 Mar² 2010

Although they might be on opposite sides of the issue, Kyle Hoefling agrees that overturning the new law would be difficult. "There's been too many deals made and too many people see this as getting something for nothing," he said.

Iowa City is the first stop of many President Obama is expected to make in the coming months to promote the health care package.  He says his fellow Democrats will win in November, if the American people better understand how they will benefit from the new health care reform law.
 

1 landmark   

n.陆标，划时代的事，地界标

参考例句：

• The Russian Revolution represents a landmark in world history.俄国革命是世界历史上的一个里程碑。
• The tower was once a landmark for ships.这座塔曾是船只的陆标。

2 mar   

vt.破坏，毁坏，弄糟

参考例句：

• It was not the custom for elderly people to mar the picnics with their presence.大人们照例不参加这样的野餐以免扫兴。
• Such a marriage might mar your career.这样的婚姻说不定会毁了你的一生。

3 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

4 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。

5 legislative   

n.立法机构，立法权；adj.立法的，有立法权的

参考例句：

• Congress is the legislative branch of the U.S. government.国会是美国政府的立法部门。
• Today's hearing was just the first step in the legislative process.今天的听证会只是展开立法程序的第一步。

6 partially   

adv.部分地，从某些方面讲

参考例句：

• The door was partially concealed by the drapes.门有一部分被门帘遮住了。
• The police managed to restore calm and the curfew was partially lifted.警方设法恢复了平静，宵禁部分解除。

7 disapprove   

v.不赞成，不同意，不批准

参考例句：

• I quite disapprove of his behaviour.我很不赞同他的行为。
• She wants to train for the theatre but her parents disapprove.她想训练自己做戏剧演员，但她的父母不赞成。

8 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。

9 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》

10 undo   

vt.解开，松开；取消，撤销

参考例句：

• His pride will undo him some day.他的傲慢总有一天会毁了他。
• I managed secretly to undo a corner of the parcel.我悄悄地设法解开了包裹的一角。

11 repeal   

n.废止，撤消；v.废止，撤消

参考例句：

• He plans to repeal a number of current policies.他计划废除一些当前的政策。
• He has made out a strong case for the repeal of the law.他提出强有力的理由，赞成废除该法令。