Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, who is poised to become only the second woman ever nominated to run for vice president of the United States, assured delegates to the Republican National convention that she has the experience and credentials for the job. The highly anticipated speech was greeted with rousing applause from delegates who have expressed strong support for her, despite questions about her abilities and qualifications.
成为美国历史上第二位女性副总统候选人的阿拉斯加州州长佩林，向共和党全国代表大会上的代表保证，她有足够的经验和资历来担任副总统这个职务。尽管有人质疑她的能力和资历，但是她这次广受瞩目的演说受到与会代表的热烈掌声，表达他们的支持。
The Alaska governor was little known before Senator McCain announced less than a week ago that he had chosen her as his running mate, and, within days, revelations about her family and questions about decisions she made as governor intensified the focus on her convention speech. Palin had to win over those skeptical about her abilities, as she formally introduced herself to the nation, and judging by the applause she received, she succeeded among the Republicans present.
不到一个星期之前，在参议员麦凯恩宣布佩林为竞选夥伴的时候，这位阿拉斯加州州长还鲜为人知。然而，就在这几天里，有关佩林的家庭问题以及她作为州长所做决定的曝光，更加强了各界对她这场演说的关注。当她正式向全国人民介绍自己的时候，佩林必须赢得那些怀疑她能力的人的支持。从她获得的掌声来看，她成功地赢得了在场共和党人的支持。
Recounting her life as a devoted mother, and her rise to mayor of a small Alaska town and now governor, Palin challenged those who question her experience to compare it to that of Democratic Presidential candidate, Barack Obama, who was a community organizer in the city of Chicago before he was elected to the state legislature and then to the U.S. Senate.
佩林诉说自己是一名尽职的母亲，她介绍了担任阿拉斯加州一个小镇的镇长，以及现在担任阿拉斯加州州长的历程。她并且以此和民主党总统候选人奥巴马的资历相比，挑战质疑她经验的人。奥巴马最早曾经是芝加哥市的社区组织者，后来当选该州议会议员，再后来当选美国联邦参议员。
"Before I became governor of the great state of Alaska, I was mayor of my hometown. And since our opponents in this presidential election seem to look down on that experience, let me explain to them what the job involves. I guess a small-town mayor is sort of like a 'community organizer,' except that you have actual responsibilities," she said.
佩林说：“在我成为美国伟大的阿拉斯加州的州长之前，我曾经是我家乡的镇长。由于我们的对手似乎看轻我这项经验，让我向他们解释这项工作包括了什么。我猜，一个小镇的镇长有点类似一个‘社区组织者’，不过你还必须负实际责任。”
She also launched a direct attack on the Obama campaign's theme of change, as she addressed the choice Americans face when they go to the polls in November.
"Here's how I look at the choice Americans face in this election. In politics, there are some candidates who use change to promote their careers. And then there are those, like John McCain, who use their careers to promote change," she said.
Palin is only the second woman ever named to a major party ticket, and the first for Republicans. Geraldine Ferrarro was the Democratic candidate in 1984. Palin is a staunch social conservative, and as she put it, not a member of the permanent political establishment, who could boost Republican chances against Barack Obama.
佩林是美国历史上第二位被主要政党提名的女性副总统候选人，也是第一位被共和党提名的女性副总统候选人。佩林是一位坚定的社会保守派，她指出，由于她不属于任何现存政治体系，因此她可以协助共和党人对抗奥巴马。
Revelations in recent days about her unwed pregnant daughter, and an ethics investigation in her home state, have nearly dominated headlines, but Palin appeared undaunted as she outlined what she and McCain would do, if elected.
最近几天有关她女儿未婚怀孕，以及她在州长任内是否滥用职权遭到调查之类事件的曝光，几乎在主导新闻版面，但是佩林似乎没有畏惧，她阐述了如果当选，她和麦凯恩将会怎么做。
In her address, Palin spoke confidently on international issues, and said she would help fight to end U.S. Reliance on Middle Eastern oil.
佩林在国际议题上也很自信的发言，她并且表示，她将协助终止美国对中东石油的依赖。
"With Russia wanting to control a vital pipeline in the Caucasus, and to divide and intimidate our European allies by using energy as a weapon, we cannot leave ourselves at the mercy of foreign suppliers. To confront the threat that Iran might seek to cut off nearly a fifth of world energy supplies, or that terrorists might strike again at the Abqaiq facility in Saudi Arabia, or that Venezuela might shut off its oil deliveries, we Americans need to produce more of our own oil and gas."
她说：“由于俄罗斯想控制高加索地区的重要输油管，并且用能源作为武器来分离并胁迫我们的欧洲盟邦，我们不能够将自己置于外国供应者的慈悲之下。为了对抗伊朗可能切断世界五分之一的能源供应，为了对抗恐怖分子可能再度攻击沙特阿拉伯的石油设施，为了对抗委内瑞拉可能切断它的石油销售，我们美国人需要生产更多我们自己的石油和天然气。”
Among the speakers at the convention Wednesday were well-known Republicans, who challenged McCain for the Republican nomination earlier in the campaign.
星期三在共和党大会上发表演说的，都是些知名的共和党人，他们在早些时候曾经和麦凯恩一同竞争过共和党的总统提名。
Describing the 2008 election as a "choice between substance and style," former New York City mayor Rudy Guiliani described McCain as an American war hero, tested time and again in crisis, and he offered this view of Senator Obama. "He's never had to lead people in a crisis. He is the least experienced candidate for President of the United States in the last 100 years. [This is] not a personal attack, [just] a statement of fact. Barack Obama has never led anything. Nothing. Nada. Nothing," he said.
前纽约市长朱利安尼称2008年的总统大选是“实质内容与表面形式之间的选择”，他形容麦凯恩是位一再经受危机考验的美国战争英雄。他是这样形容奥巴马的：“奥巴马从来没有在危机中领导过人民。他是过去100年来美国最没有经验的总统候选人。”
Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney said a McCain-Palin victory in November would bring conservatism back to Washington. "We need change all right - change from a liberal Washington to a conservative Washington! We have a prescription for every American who wants change in Washington - throw out the big government liberals and elect John McCain and Sarah Palin."
Senator McCain arrived in St. Paul earlier in the day, preparing for his acceptance speech Thursday night, and made a surprise appearance on stage after Palin finished speaking to thunderous applause.
参议员麦凯恩星期三早些时候抵达圣保罗，为他星期四晚间接受提名的演说做准备，在佩林演说结束获得热烈掌声时，麦凯恩突然出现在舞台上。 |