美国国家公共电台 NPR--W.Va. race could be pivotal to deciding which party controls the U.S. Senate

W.Va. race could be pivotal to deciding which party controls the U.S. Senate

Transcript¹

With Democrats³ currently controlling the Senate with a slim majority, the Senate race in West Virginia could determine which party has control of the chamber⁴ following the 2024 election results.

STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:

Back in 2016, Democrat² Joe Manchin endorsed⁵ Jim Justice for governor of West Virginia. Justice was a coal mine owner. He also was a Democrat, as Joe Manchin was. Now Justice is a Republican, and he wants Senator Manchin's job. NPR's Dave Mistich reports on a 2024 race, one of several that will decide control of the Senate.

DAVE MISTICH, BYLINE⁶: In announcing his run for Senate, Jim Justice addressed the crowd gathered at his lavish⁷ Greenbrier Resort with a line he's repeated to West Virginians for years.

(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)

JIM JUSTICE: Too many politicians today want something for them, and I've never wanted anything.

MISTICH: Justice, whose campaign did not respond to NPR's requests for an interview was once listed by Forbes magazine as a billionaire. In the political arena⁸, he's framed himself as folksy, and he's leaned into an unconventional approach. He once unveiled a platter of bull manure⁹ while announcing a budget veto, and he had a public spat¹⁰ with actress Bette Midler after she called the state poor, illiterate¹¹ and strung-out. Her comments were initially¹² directed at Joe Manchin, but in a State of the State address, Justice held up his bulldog and told Midler to kiss the dogs, quote, "heinie." He mentioned the feud¹³ just last month while announcing his Senate campaign.

(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)

JUSTICE: For God's sakes a-living, you know I'm different. Anybody that would hold up a bulldog's behind to the camera at the State of the State for Bette Midler absolutely will just about do anything.

MISTICH: Twenty-seven-year-old Kennedy Roberts of Morgantown says Justice's penchant¹⁴ for improvised¹⁵ parables¹⁶, colloquialisms¹⁷ and other antics plays well with him.

KENNEDY ROBERTS: If this were someone who you sensed dishonesty in, it would come off as performative. But it's not so much performative as it is theatrical¹⁸. It's - there is an honesty behind it.

MISTICH: While he has the support of many West Virginians, including Roberts, there have been many scandals clouding his time in office. In 2016, an NPR investigation¹⁹ showed Justice's companies owed millions in unpaid²⁰ taxes and mine fines. And there's been other legal troubles. A Democratic state lawmaker sued Justice to get him to abide²¹ by the state constitution and reside in the state capital of Charleston.

While in office, Justice announced he and state officials he'd appointed had reached a deal to clear his tax debts - though no details were released. The residency suit was dismissed with Justice agreeing to live in the governor's mansion²² after being ordered to do so by the state Supreme²³ Court. More recently, lenders have taken his businesses to court over allegations of unpaid debts. Justice's son, who oversees²⁴ these businesses, says they have a path to pay off these loans but have been unable to reach an agreement with the lender. Back in Morgantown, Roberts says these legal issues don't concern him.

ROBERTS: I couldn't really even tell you other than in broad generalities what exactly the accusations²⁵ are against Governor Justice.

MISTICH: During the pandemic, Justice captured residents' attention through regular briefings, reading the ages and home counties of every person who died of COVID. He made note of it as he kicked off his Senate campaign.

(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)

JUSTICE: This state didn't shut down. We made the right decisions. We made the right decisions to protect our counties and on and on and on.

MISTICH: Over the course of his two terms as governor, Justice has tackled some top conservative priorities. He signed a near-total ban on abortion²⁶, a ban on gender-affirming care for minors²⁷, a bill that allows guns on university campuses and big cuts to the state's personal income tax. In terms of a Senate race, Justice recently tweeted that securing the southern border would be his top priority. West Virginia House Speaker Roger Hanshaw says Justice has approached the governor's office the same way he oversees his sprawling²⁸ business ventures.

ROGER HANSHAW: What he excels at and what he likes to do is talk in terms of philosophy and general approach and overall concept and then leave it to the legislators and his staff to really formulate²⁹ the specific policies.

MISTICH: Despite the GOP's dominance in West Virginia, Hanshaw, a Republican, says he wouldn't count out Manchin, who plays a key role with Democrats holding a slim majority in the Senate.

HANSHAW: No one's ever made any money betting against Joe Manchin in politics. And if he decides that he's going to be in the race, that will be a competitive race.

MISTICH: But before Justice might get a chance to take on Manchin, he'll have to win a primary that includes Congressman³⁰ Alex Mooney. And the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee is suing Justice for not releasing his schedule as governor under a public records request. Justice's office says his schedule only exists in draft form. West Virginia University political science professor Sam Workman says former President Donald Trump³¹ will likely be another factor as Justice and Mooney seek Trump's endorsement³².

SAM WORKMAN: And how much that matters is anybody's guess. But if it's going to matter anywhere, post-midterms, it's going to be here in this state.

MISTICH: Manchin has yet to announce his plans for 2024. But as Justice announced his Senate campaign, Manchin put out a confident statement promising³³ he'll win any race he enters.

Dave Mistich, NPR News. Morgantown, W.V.

1 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。

2 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。

3 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》

4 chamber   

n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所

参考例句：

• For many,the dentist's surgery remains a torture chamber.对许多人来说，牙医的治疗室一直是间受刑室。
• The chamber was ablaze with light.会议厅里灯火辉煌。

5 endorsed   

vt.& vi.endorse的过去式或过去分词形式v.赞同( endorse的过去式和过去分词 )；在（尤指支票的）背面签字；在（文件的）背面写评论；在广告上说本人使用并赞同某产品

参考例句：

• The committee endorsed an initiative by the chairman to enter discussion about a possible merger. 委员会通过了主席提出的新方案，开始就可能进行的并购进行讨论。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The government has broadly endorsed a research paper proposing new educational targets for 14-year-olds. 政府基本上支持建议对14 岁少年实行新教育目标的研究报告。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 byline   

n.署名；v.署名

参考例句：

• His byline was absent as well.他的署名也不见了。
• We wish to thank the author of this article which carries no byline.我们要感谢这篇文章的那位没有署名的作者。

7 lavish   

adj.无节制的；浪费的；vt.慷慨地给予，挥霍

参考例句：

• He despised people who were lavish with their praises.他看不起那些阿谀奉承的人。
• The sets and costumes are lavish.布景和服装极尽奢华。

8 arena   

n.竞技场，运动场所；竞争场所，舞台

参考例句：

• She entered the political arena at the age of 25. 她25岁进入政界。
• He had not an adequate arena for the exercise of his talents.他没有充分发挥其才能的场所。

9 manure   

n.粪，肥，肥粒；vt.施肥

参考例句：

• The farmers were distributing manure over the field.农民们正在田间施肥。
• The farmers used manure to keep up the fertility of their land.农夫们用粪保持其土质的肥沃。

10 spat   

n.口角，掌击；v.发出呼噜呼噜声

参考例句：

• Her parents always have spats.她的父母经常有些小的口角。
• There is only a spat between the brother and sister.那只是兄妹间的小吵小闹。

11 illiterate   

adj.文盲的；无知的；n.文盲

参考例句：

• There are still many illiterate people in our country.在我国还有许多文盲。
• I was an illiterate in the old society,but now I can read.我这个旧社会的文盲，今天也认字了。

12 initially   

adv.最初，开始

参考例句：

• The ban was initially opposed by the US.这一禁令首先遭到美国的反对。
• Feathers initially developed from insect scales.羽毛最初由昆虫的翅瓣演化而来。

13 feud   

n.长期不和；世仇；v.长期争斗；世代结仇

参考例句：

• How did he start his feud with his neighbor?他是怎样和邻居开始争吵起来的？
• The two tribes were long at feud with each other.这两个部族长期不和。

14 penchant   

n.爱好，嗜好；（强烈的）倾向

参考例句：

• She has a penchant for Indian food.她爱吃印度食物。
• He had a penchant for playing jokes on people.他喜欢拿人开玩笑。

15 improvised   

a.即席而作的,即兴的

参考例句：

• He improvised a song about the football team's victory. 他即席创作了一首足球队胜利之歌。
• We improvised a tent out of two blankets and some long poles. 我们用两条毛毯和几根长竿搭成一个临时帐蓬。

16 parables   

n.（圣经中的）寓言故事( parable的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Jesus taught in parables. 耶酥以比喻讲道。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• In the New Testament are the parables and miracles. 《新约》则由寓言利奇闻趣事构成。 来自辞典例句

17 colloquialisms   

n.俗话，白话，口语( colloquialism的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• There are as many colloquialisms in Japanese as are in Chinese. 中日文中存在着大量的四字熟语。 来自互联网
• It is getting better, but It'still struggles with colloquialisms and idioms. 机器翻译的质量虽然有所改善，但翻译起口语体和习语来还是困难重重。 来自互联网

18 theatrical   

adj.剧场的，演戏的；做戏似的，做作的

参考例句：

• The final scene was dismayingly lacking in theatrical effect.最后一场缺乏戏剧效果，叫人失望。
• She always makes some theatrical gesture.她老在做些夸张的手势。

19 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。

20 unpaid   

adj.未付款的，无报酬的

参考例句：

• Doctors work excessive unpaid overtime.医生过度加班却无报酬。
• He's doing a month's unpaid work experience with an engineering firm.他正在一家工程公司无偿工作一个月以获得工作经验。

21 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。

22 mansion   

n.大厦，大楼；宅第

参考例句：

• The old mansion was built in 1850.这座古宅建于1850年。
• The mansion has extensive grounds.这大厦四周的庭园广阔。

23 supreme   

adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的

参考例句：

• It was the supreme moment in his life.那是他一生中最重要的时刻。
• He handed up the indictment to the supreme court.他把起诉书送交最高法院。

24 oversees   

v.监督，监视( oversee的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• She oversees both the research and the manufacturing departments. 她既监督研究部门又监督生产部门。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The Department of Education oversees the federal programs dealing with education. 教育部监管处理教育的联邦程序。 来自互联网

25 accusations   

n.指责( accusation的名词复数 )；指控；控告；（被告发、控告的）罪名

参考例句：

• There were accusations of plagiarism. 曾有过关于剽窃的指控。
• He remained unruffled by their accusations. 对于他们的指控他处之泰然。

26 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。

27 minors   

n.未成年人( minor的名词复数 )；副修科目；小公司；[逻辑学]小前提v.[主美国英语]副修，选修，兼修( minor的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• The law forbids shops to sell alcohol to minors. 法律禁止商店向未成年者出售含酒精的饮料。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He had three minors this semester. 这学期他有三门副修科目。 来自《简明英汉词典》

28 sprawling   

adj.蔓生的，不规则地伸展的v.伸开四肢坐[躺]( sprawl的现在分词 )；蔓延；杂乱无序地拓展；四肢伸展坐着（或躺着）

参考例句：

• He was sprawling in an armchair in front of the TV. 他伸开手脚坐在电视机前的一张扶手椅上。
• a modern sprawling town 一座杂乱无序拓展的现代城镇

29 formulate   

v.用公式表示；规划；设计；系统地阐述

参考例句：

• He took care to formulate his reply very clearly.他字斟句酌，清楚地做了回答。
• I was impressed by the way he could formulate his ideas.他陈述观点的方式让我印象深刻。

30 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。

31 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。

32 endorsement   

n.背书；赞成，认可，担保；签(注)，批注

参考例句：

• We are happy to give the product our full endorsement.我们很高兴给予该产品完全的认可。
• His presidential campaign won endorsement from several celebrities.他参加总统竞选得到一些社会名流的支持。

33 promising   

adj.有希望的，有前途的

参考例句：

• The results of the experiments are very promising.实验的结果充满了希望。
• We're trying to bring along one or two promising young swimmers.我们正设法培养出一两名有前途的年轻游泳选手。