美国国家公共电台 NPR--Democrats say voters are watching the Jan. 6 hearings, but it's not their top issue

Democrats² say voters are watching the Jan. 6 hearings, but it's not their top issue

Transcript³

The Jan. 6 select committee hearings have riveted⁴ many in Washington over the summer, but their political impact on key races around the U.S. appears to be limited.

House Democrats on the front lines of fighting off a red wave in November's midterm elections say voters are paying attention to new details about the Capitol attack that have emerged in the hearings — but they say the economy, not the probe into a possible threat to democracy, remains⁵ the leading issue.

Most political analysts⁶ expect Republicans to win back control of the House of Representatives, as well as possibly the Senate, in the fall. The combination of President Biden's record-low approval ratings with decades-high inflation is politically potent⁷, especially when added to the historical trend that the party that controls the White House loses seats in Congress in midterm elections.

Even before the House select committee's public hearings started last month, many Democrats on Capitol Hill were skeptical⁸ that they would reveal much new information or break through with undecided voters. But several lawmakers in top-tier races say there has been interest across the political spectrum⁹ in the investigation¹⁰. They just hear far more from voters about the price of gas and other consumer goods.

Republican reaction to hearings could factor in races won on the margins¹¹

Rep. Dan Kildee, D-Mich., was surprised how many voters — and from which party — are watching the Jan. 6 hearings.

"It's not just Democrats," he said. "A lot of independents and a share of Republicans are learning more about this Republican Party and what it embraces."

What Republicans have said and done about the Capitol siege could affect the outcome of his race in a district that's rated a toss-up, Kildee said.

"I mean, all these races are won and lost on the margins," he said, adding he has seen polling numbers that suggest a large slice of Republicans "are shocked that the current Republican Party seems to be essentially¹² apologizing for the insurrectionists."

Kildee says the economy is still the main issue on voters' minds, but he is also arguing that the GOP has looked the other way when it comes to the Capitol attack. He highlights what he says is the position of the Republican leader who could be the next speaker of the House, instead of talking about former President Donald Trump¹³.

"The fact that they have embraced all of this because they cynically¹⁴ believe that they're better off politically is really frightening," he said. "[House Minority Leader] Kevin McCarthy has essentially chosen the side of the people who attacked the Capitol."

Another Michigan Democrat¹, Rep. Elissa Slotkin, recounted how one worker in her district, a machine operator at an auto¹⁵ supplier, was trying to get people to pay attention to the hearings.

"He said that every time he goes into the break room, they're watching like game shows or soap operas — and he always turns it to the January 6th hearing to try and make sure that people realize what a big deal it is," she said.

But Slotkin says the violent attempt to overturn the 2020 presidential election result wasn't the main worry for her constituents¹⁶ who drive an average of 40 miles one way to work, adding, "I hear much more about inflation and the price of gas."

She hopes those outside the Democratic base can be convinced by the findings of the investigation that there needs to be accountability.

"What's important to me is that we reach people who don't know how to think about January 6th, who know it was a violent thing, who don't like that violence, but don't understand what appears to be a significant level of coordination¹⁷, who are not sure whether this was a really bad day gone wrong or, as I see it, a really fundamental threat to our democracy," she said.

Slotkin also thinks that conservative media covering the hearings more has had an effect, noting that many of her constituents watch Fox News.

"The kinds of things that we're learning have the potential to change people's approach" to the Capitol attack, she said.

Democrats' campaign chief wraps Jan. 6 message with guns and abortion¹⁸

Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney, who runs the House Democrats' campaign arm, represents a swing New York district.

Even those casually¹⁹ watching the hearings are seeing evidence about how top Republicans worked to overturn the results of the 2020 election, he said.

"That's criminal behavior. And they should be held accountable. And I think that ordinary people get that," Maloney told NPR.

Wrapping the message about the attack with other issues is already helping²⁰ Democrats close the gap heading into November, according to Maloney.

"The combination of ignoring gun violence, overturning Roe²¹ v. Wade²² and whitewashing²³ the attack on the Capitol really, really powerfully demonstrates for people that the MAGA Republican Party is dangerous and should not be running the country and should not be running the House of Representatives," he said.

Rep. Dean Phillips, a moderate Democrat who is running for reelection in a solidly blue district near Minneapolis, has heard from voters across the ideological²⁴ spectrum who are watching the hearings, but he doubts the hearings will be a major factor when it comes to cast votes.

"Will it change a lot of hearts and minds? Probably not," he said.

Committee report and possible Justice Department action close to midterms

Maloney admits that there is some frustration²⁵ among some in the Democratic base that the Justice Department hasn't announced any action against Trump.

"I think it's going to be very hard for people to understand if there aren't actions by the Justice Department to hold people accountable," Maloney said.

He added, "Those of us who are arguing for the rule of law here respect the independence of the Justice Department. But it's hard to see why it's taken so long."

Slotkin hopes the committee will sew up the conclusions and walk people through the findings of the investigation in "a very concise²⁶ way."

But the committee's report coming out in the fall, at the same time that the Justice Department releases more details about its sweeping²⁷ investigation, could put it politically front and center, she said.

"I don't love the timing²⁸, but I also can't abide²⁹ a lack of accountability for a violent insurrection and for potentially trying to, you know, upend one branch of government," she said. "Rule of law is fundamental for how we live in this country together. So I want the rule of law followed, even if it's politically controversial."

Democrats in swing districts are trying to make sure that voters hear them more on inflation by stressing their efforts to bring down higher prices, while also reminding independents about Republican opposition³⁰ to abortion rights.

Meanwhile, Republicans on Capitol Hill have largely avoided any mention of the Jan. 6 committee's investigation and have waved off virtually all questions about new developments by saying the probe is one-sided and politically motivated. Incumbents³¹ and challengers in the party also remain confident that running on the economy is their ticket to flipping³² control of the House in November.

1 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。

2 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》

3 transcript   

n.抄本，誊本，副本，肄业证书

参考例句：

• A transcript of the tapes was presented as evidence in court.一份录音带的文字本作为证据被呈交法庭。
• They wouldn't let me have a transcript of the interview.他们拒绝给我一份采访的文字整理稿。

4 riveted   

铆接( rivet的过去式和过去分词 )； 把…固定住； 吸引； 引起某人的注意

参考例句：

• I was absolutely riveted by her story. 我完全被她的故事吸引住了。
• My attention was riveted by a slight movement in the bushes. 我的注意力被灌木丛中的轻微晃动吸引住了。

5 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。

6 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

7 potent   

adj.强有力的，有权势的；有效力的

参考例句：

• The medicine had a potent effect on your disease.这药物对你的病疗效很大。
• We must account of his potent influence.我们必须考虑他的强有力的影响。

8 skeptical   

adj.怀疑的，多疑的

参考例句：

• Others here are more skeptical about the chances for justice being done.这里的其他人更为怀疑正义能否得到伸张。
• Her look was skeptical and resigned.她的表情是将信将疑而又无可奈何。

9 spectrum   

n.谱，光谱，频谱；范围，幅度，系列

参考例句：

• This is a kind of atomic spectrum.这是一种原子光谱。
• We have known much of the constitution of the solar spectrum.关于太阳光谱的构成，我们已了解不少。

10 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。

11 margins   

边( margin的名词复数 )； 利润； 页边空白； 差数

参考例句：

• They have always had to make do with relatively small profit margins. 他们不得不经常设法应付较少的利润额。
• To create more space between the navigation items, add left and right margins to the links. 在每个项目间留更多的空隙，加左或者右的margins来定义链接。

12 essentially   

adv.本质上，实质上，基本上

参考例句：

• Really great men are essentially modest.真正的伟人大都很谦虚。
• She is an essentially selfish person.她本质上是个自私自利的人。

13 trump   

n.王牌，法宝；v.打出王牌，吹喇叭

参考例句：

• He was never able to trump up the courage to have a showdown.他始终鼓不起勇气摊牌。
• The coach saved his star player for a trump card.教练保留他的明星选手，作为他的王牌。

14 cynically   

adv.爱嘲笑地，冷笑地

参考例句：

• "Holding down the receiver,'said Daisy cynically. “挂上话筒在讲。”黛西冷嘲热讽地说。 来自英汉文学 - 盖茨比
• The Democrats sensibly (if cynically) set about closing the God gap. 民主党在明智（有些讽刺）的减少宗教引起的问题。 来自互联网

15 auto   

n.(=automobile)(口语)汽车

参考例句：

• Don't park your auto here.别把你的汽车停在这儿。
• The auto industry has brought many people to Detroit.汽车工业把许多人吸引到了底特律。

16 constituents   

n.选民( constituent的名词复数 )；成分；构成部分；要素

参考例句：

• She has the full support of her constituents. 她得到本区选民的全力支持。
• Hydrogen and oxygen are the constituents of water. 氢和氧是水的主要成分。 来自《简明英汉词典》

17 coordination   

n.协调，协作

参考例句：

• Gymnastics is a sport that requires a considerable level of coordination.体操是一项需要高协调性的运动。
• The perfect coordination of the dancers and singers added a rhythmic charm to the performance.舞蹈演员和歌手们配合得很好，使演出更具魅力。

18 abortion   

n.流产，堕胎

参考例句：

• She had an abortion at the women's health clinic.她在妇女保健医院做了流产手术。
• A number of considerations have led her to have a wilful abortion.多种考虑使她执意堕胎。

19 casually   

adv.漠不关心地，无动于衷地，不负责任地

参考例句：

• She remarked casually that she was changing her job.她当时漫不经心地说要换工作。
• I casually mentioned that I might be interested in working abroad.我不经意地提到我可能会对出国工作感兴趣。

20 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。

21 roe   

n.鱼卵；獐鹿

参考例句：

• We will serve smoked cod's roe at the dinner.宴会上我们将上一道熏鳕鱼子。
• I'll scramble some eggs with roe?我用鱼籽炒几个鸡蛋好吗？

22 wade   

v.跋涉，涉水；n.跋涉

参考例句：

• We had to wade through the river to the opposite bank.我们只好涉水过河到对岸。
• We cannot but wade across the river.我们只好趟水过去。

23 whitewashing   

粉饰，美化，掩饰( whitewash的现在分词 )； 喷浆

参考例句：

• Tom went on whitewashing the fence, paying no attention to Ben. 汤姆没有理睬本，继续在粉刷着篱笆。
• When whitewashing the wall, he painted with a roller in his hand. 刷墙的时候，他手里拿个辊子，挥舞着胳膊。

24 ideological   

a.意识形态的

参考例句：

• He always tries to link his study with his ideological problems. 他总是把学习和自己的思想问题联系起来。
• He helped me enormously with advice on how to do ideological work. 他告诉我怎样做思想工作，对我有很大帮助。

25 frustration   

n.挫折，失败，失效，落空

参考例句：

• He had to fight back tears of frustration.他不得不强忍住失意的泪水。
• He beat his hands on the steering wheel in frustration.他沮丧地用手打了几下方向盘。

26 concise   

adj.简洁的，简明的

参考例句：

• The explanation in this dictionary is concise and to the point.这部词典里的释义简明扼要。
• I gave a concise answer about this.我对于此事给了一个简要的答复。

27 sweeping   

adj.范围广大的，一扫无遗的

参考例句：

• The citizens voted for sweeping reforms.公民投票支持全面的改革。
• Can you hear the wind sweeping through the branches?你能听到风掠过树枝的声音吗？

28 timing   

n.时间安排，时间选择

参考例句：

• The timing of the meeting is not convenient.会议的时间安排不合适。
• The timing of our statement is very opportune.我们发表声明选择的时机很恰当。

29 abide   

vi.遵守；坚持；vt.忍受

参考例句：

• You must abide by the results of your mistakes.你必须承担你的错误所造成的后果。
• If you join the club,you have to abide by its rules.如果你参加俱乐部，你就得遵守它的规章。

30 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。

31 incumbents   

教区牧师( incumbent的名词复数 )； 教会中的任职者

参考例句：

• In general, incumbents have a 94 percent chance of being reelected. 通常现任官员有94%的几率会再次当选。
• This arangement yields a wonderful gain to incumbents. 这种安排为在职人员提供了意外的得益。

32 flipping   

讨厌之极的

参考例句：

• I hate this flipping hotel! 我讨厌这个该死的旅馆！
• Don't go flipping your lid. 别发火。