VOA标准英语2011--Sex Scandals Mar US Presidential Politics

Sex Scandals Mar¹ US Presidential Politics

 

From Presidents Thomas Jefferson to William Jefferson Clinton, sex scandals keep surfacing in American politics.

"I told you this bullseye on my back has gotten bigger," said Repubilcan presidential hopeful Herman Cain, the latest to come under the microscope. First, there were allegations of sexual harassment²:

"He also grabbed my head," accuser Sharon Bialek told the press.

Then, there were claims of a 13-year affair. Public support for Cain has plummeted³ since.

"I think if you’re a cheater you’re a cheater, so to me he’s kind of out," a Washington area woman said.

"I personally don’t care if it’s a private matter or public, it reflects the character, it’s a decision, and is that the type of person we want to lead?" a Washington area man said.

Republican Presidential candidate Herman Cain gestures to the crowd during a campaign stop in Detroit, Michigan (file photo)

American University presidential historian Allan Lichtman says sex scandals reveal the arrogance⁴ of politicians.

"Sex scandals are particularly grating when they affect the so-called 'family values' candidates who seem to be preaching one thing and practicing another. That’s just a fundamental insult to the American people," he explained.

2008 Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards saw his political career destroyed, when Americans learned he had fathered a child in an affair with his campaign videographer.

In 1987, another Democratic presidential hopeful, Gary Hart, dropped out of the race when photos showed the married former senator on a yacht with a young model.

But sex scandals do not always end careers. Bill Clinton was in his second term as president when reports emerged of his affair with a White House intern⁵.

“I did not have sexual relations with that woman,” then-President Bill Clinton told the nation.

Even after the House of Representatives impeached⁶ him for lying about the relationship, President Clinton maintained high approval ratings. He remained in office after the Senate failed to convict him of the charges.

Pew Research Center Associate Director Michael Dimock says the public is willing to look past affairs if they see other good qualities in a politician.

"People really want to know about where candidates stand on the issues and what kind of leadership qualities they can show," Dimock said. "And while their honesty in their personal life is one reference point for people, it’s not necessarily a deal killer⁷ for everybody."

And the scandals are not limited to U.S. leaders. In May, then-International Monetary⁸ Fund Director Dominique Strauss-Kahn lost his chance for the French presidency⁹ after a hotel maid in New York accused him of attempted rape¹⁰.

In the U.S. race, it remains¹¹ to be seen whether Cain's candidacy can survive, and whether one of his main Republican rivals, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, who once stirred controversy¹² with his own love affair, might see his past come back to haunt him.

1 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。

2 harassment   

n.骚扰，扰乱，烦恼，烦乱

参考例句：

• She often got telephone harassment at night these days.这些天她经常在夜晚受到电话骚扰。
• The company prohibits any form of harassment.公司禁止任何形式的骚扰行为。

3 plummeted   

v.垂直落下，骤然跌落( plummet的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Share prices plummeted to an all-time low. 股票价格暴跌到历史最低点。
• A plane plummeted to earth. 一架飞机一头栽向地面。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 arrogance   

n.傲慢，自大

参考例句：

• His arrogance comes out in every speech he makes.他每次讲话都表现得骄傲自大。
• Arrogance arrested his progress.骄傲阻碍了他的进步。

5 intern   

v.拘禁，软禁；n.实习生

参考例句：

• I worked as an intern in that firm last summer.去年夏天我在那家商行实习。
• The intern bandaged the cut as the nurse looked on.这位实习生在护士的照看下给病人包扎伤口。

6 impeached   

v.控告（某人）犯罪( impeach的过去式和过去分词 )；弹劾；对（某事物）怀疑；提出异议

参考例句：

• Elected officials can be impeached. 经过选举产生的官员可以被弹劾。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The judge was impeached for taking a bribe. 这个法官被检举接受贿赂。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

7 killer   

n.杀人者，杀人犯，杀手，屠杀者

参考例句：

• Heart attacks have become Britain's No.1 killer disease.心脏病已成为英国的头号致命疾病。
• The bulk of the evidence points to him as her killer.大量证据证明是他杀死她的。

8 monetary   

adj.货币的，钱的；通货的；金融的；财政的

参考例句：

• The monetary system of some countries used to be based on gold.过去有些国家的货币制度是金本位制的。
• Education in the wilderness is not a matter of monetary means.荒凉地区的教育不是钱财问题。

9 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。

10 rape   

n.抢夺，掠夺，强奸；vt.掠夺，抢夺，强奸

参考例句：

• The rape of the countryside had a profound ravage on them.对乡村的掠夺给他们造成严重创伤。
• He was brought to court and charged with rape.他被带到法庭并被指控犯有强奸罪。

11 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

12 controversy   

n.争论，辩论，争吵

参考例句：

• That is a fact beyond controversy.那是一个无可争论的事实。
• We ran the risk of becoming the butt of every controversy.我们要冒使自己在所有的纷争中都成为众矢之的的风险。