VOA标准英语2013--US Conservatives Debate Change

 

US Conservatives Debate Change

The CPAC conference draws conservative activists¹ from around the country. Among those looking to make a strong impression was Senator Marco Rubio of Florida.

“In the vast history of the world and of mankind, almost everyone that’s ever been born is poor and disadvantaged with no ability to get ahead," he said. "What’s made us different is that here people have had the real chance to get a better life no matter where they started out.”

Rubio is considered a possible presidential contender for 2016, as is Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky.

Unlike other conservatives, though, Paul said the Republican Party must change.

"We need a Republican Party that shows up on the South Side of Chicago and shouts at the top of our lungs, 'We are the party of jobs and opportunity!' The GOP [Grand Old Party] is the ticket to the middle class."

The meeting serves as a melting pot for conservative activists, complete with live Tea Party television broadcasts and scores of conservative talk radio hosts.

President Barack Obama won re-election last November thanks in large part to overwhelming support from minority and younger voters, something organizer Al Cardenas says has to change.

“America has changed demographically, and, if the conservative movement wants to be a majority movement in this country, it needs to appeal in equal force to everyone in this country,” said Cardenas.

Iowa Congressman² Steve King said conservatives remain upbeat despite last year’s election.

"We are getting our energy back. I mean that is really it," he said. "Certainly it will be viewed upon the November 6 election as a defeat. But it wasn’t that we lost, but it is the things we planned on achieving that we didn’t achieve.”

But many conservatives here resist the notion of compromising on core principles, including college student Kelsey Drapkin.

“I know there was a lot of talk of maybe we should be more lenient³ on the social issues," Drapkin said. "But I don’t think that is the answer. You have to stick to your principles.”

A resistance to change and compromise could eventually split Republicans, said political analyst⁴ Norm Ornstein.

“They don’t have any intention of listening to the old establishment figures, and we are going to see a very substantial tug-of-war within Republican Party circles that could divide the party dramatically,” Ornstein said.

For the moment, though, CPAC attendees are focused on the future and the search for a younger generation of leadership.

1 activists   

n.（政治活动的）积极分子，活动家( activist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His research work was attacked by animal rights activists . 他的研究受到了动物权益维护者的抨击。
• Party activists with lower middle class pedigrees are numerous. 党的激进分子中有很多出身于中产阶级下层。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 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。

3 lenient   

adj.宽大的，仁慈的

参考例句：

• The judge was lenient with him.法官对他很宽大。
• It's a question of finding the means between too lenient treatment and too severe punishment.问题是要找出处理过宽和处罚过严的折中办法。

4 analyst   

n.分析家，化验员；心理分析学家

参考例句：

• What can you contribute to the position of a market analyst?你有什么技能可有助于市场分析员的职务？
• The analyst is required to interpolate values between standards.分析人员需要在这些标准中插入一些值。