-
(单词翻译:双击或拖选)
CAPITOL HILL — The U.S. Senate has confirmed President Barack Obama’s pick for defense1 secretary, Chuck Hagel, after a bruising2 nomination3 battle that saw widespread Republican opposition4 to the former Republican senator by a vote of 58 to 41. Hagel will lead the Pentagon as America’s war in Afghanistan is winding5 down, and at a time of U.S. fiscal6 austerity.
The Senate confirmed Hagel Tuesday, just days before the start of automatic spending cuts, half of which will affect national security. Senate Majority Leader Harry7 Reid:
“In three days, across-the-board cuts to defense spending are scheduled to take effect," said Reid. "The Pentagon needs a seasoned leader to implement8 these cuts.”
Two weeks ago, Republicans blocked a final vote on Hagel, saying they needed more time to consider the nomination. On Tuesday, more than a dozen Republicans joined with Democrats9 to end debate. But bipartisanship virtually disappeared four hours later, when all but four Republicans voted against confirmation11 in the Democrat-controlled chamber12.
Senator John Cornyn was among those who cast a ‘no’ vote, citing Hagel’s statements at his confirmation hearing earlier this month.
“Senator Hagel described the murderous, terrorist-sponsoring Iranian theocracy13 as an ‘elected legitimate14 government’. That comment is a slap in the face to all the courageous15 Iranian democracy activists16 who have risked their lives, and in many cases given their lives, to oppose the dictatorship and promote freedom. There is no way to sugarcoat it: Senator Hagel’s performance before the Senate Armed Services Committee was remarkably17 inept18. And we should not be installing a defense secretary who is obviously not qualified19 for the job," said Cornyn.
Cornyn and other Republicans also criticized Hagel’s comments on Iran’s nuclear program and Israel’s perceived clout20 in U.S. politics.
Democrats said many of Hagel’s comments have been mischaracterized or taken out of context. Senator Carl Levin noted21 Hagel’s unique military background.
“Senator Hagel would be the first former enlisted22 man and the first veteran of the Vietnam War to serve as secretary of defense," said Levin. "This background gives Senator Hagel an invaluable23 perspective.”
Democratic Senator Tom Carper cautioned his Republican colleagues against setting a damaging precedent24 of partisan10 obstruction25 to presidential Cabinet picks.
“Some day we will have a Republican president again," said Carper. "Someday we will have a Republican majority here. Just be careful - I say this with respect - be careful of the bed that we make. Because someday our friends on the other side [Republicans] will get to lie in it.”
Republicans countered that President Obama should have put forth26 a less-divisive nominee27 who would have attracted bipartisan support.
Senator Roger Wicker:
“If a Republican president in the future brings a nomination for defense secretary to this Senate who cannot get as many as 60 votes, I will ask that Republican president to withdraw that nomination, and wish this president [Obama] would do the same," said Wicker.
点击收听单词发音
1 defense | |
n.防御,保卫;[pl.]防务工事;辩护,答辩 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
2 bruising | |
adj.殊死的;十分激烈的v.擦伤(bruise的现在分词形式) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
3 nomination | |
n.提名,任命,提名权 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
4 opposition | |
n.反对,敌对 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
5 winding | |
n.绕,缠,绕组,线圈 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
6 fiscal | |
adj.财政的,会计的,国库的,国库岁入的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
7 harry | |
vt.掠夺,蹂躏,使苦恼 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
8 implement | |
n.(pl.)工具,器具;vt.实行,实施,执行 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
9 democrats | |
n.民主主义者,民主人士( democrat的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
10 partisan | |
adj.党派性的;游击队的;n.游击队员;党徒 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
11 confirmation | |
n.证实,确认,批准 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
12 chamber | |
n.房间,寝室;会议厅;议院;会所 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
13 theocracy | |
n.神权政治;僧侣政治 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
14 legitimate | |
adj.合法的,合理的,合乎逻辑的;v.使合法 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
15 courageous | |
adj.勇敢的,有胆量的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
16 activists | |
n.(政治活动的)积极分子,活动家( activist的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
17 remarkably | |
ad.不同寻常地,相当地 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
18 inept | |
adj.不恰当的,荒谬的,拙劣的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
19 qualified | |
adj.合格的,有资格的,胜任的,有限制的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
20 clout | |
n.用手猛击;权力,影响力 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
21 noted | |
adj.著名的,知名的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
22 enlisted | |
adj.应募入伍的v.(使)入伍, (使)参军( enlist的过去式和过去分词 );获得(帮助或支持) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
23 invaluable | |
adj.无价的,非常宝贵的,极为贵重的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
24 precedent | |
n.先例,前例;惯例;adj.在前的,在先的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
25 obstruction | |
n.阻塞,堵塞;障碍物 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
26 forth | |
adv.向前;向外,往外 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
27 nominee | |
n.被提名者;被任命者;被推荐者 | |
参考例句: |
|
|