VOA标准英语2008年-Barack Obama Makes History, Promises Change

By Cindy Saine
Washington
04 June 2008

Senator Barack Obama has made history by becoming the first African-American to secure the presidential nomination¹ of a major U.S. political party. To win the Democratic nomination, Obama has endured a grueling battle with Senator Hillary Clinton, the first woman to come this far in a presidential contest. Obama is now expected to take on Republican presidential hopeful John McCain, in a clash of generations and visions for the country's future. VOA Correspondent Cindy Saine reports from Washington.
　

Barack Obama looks out the window of his vehicle after speaking to reporters and casting a vote at the US Capitol, 4 June 2008

Barack Obama, the son of a Kenyan father and a white American mother from Kansas, who grew up in Indonesia and Hawaii, made history with these words to his jubilant supporters in Saint Paul, Minnesota Tuesday.

"Because of you, tonight, I can stand here and say that I will be the Democratic nominee² for the President of the United States," he said.

Obama's victory, which will not be final until the Democratic convention in August, is a true milestone³, considering that racial segregation⁴ was legal in the United States until only a few decades ago. Political analyst⁵ Larry Sabato of the University of Virginia said Obama's nomination may, in fact, be unique across the world.

"Let's remember that there are very few countries in the world who have ever elected as president a member of a discriminated-against minority," he noted⁶.

Sabato said Obama's historic victory is an achievement the United States can be proud of.
　

Michelle Obama smiles at her husband Democratic presidential candidate, Barack Obama, after his speech at a primary night rally, 3 June 2008, in St. Paul, Minnesota

"I think it speaks to the fact that, in America you really do get an opportunity to do anything, if you have the talent and ability and you work hard enough," he added. "So, it's bound to improve the American image abroad. I think it improves the American image internally. I think Americans feel better about their country knowing, whether they are for Obama or not, that someone with his background can be in a position to become president."

If she had won the nomination, Hillary Clinton would have made history as the first woman to win the nomination of a major political party. Larry Sabato said the fact that Hillary Clinton is the wife of former President Bill Clinton may have been part of the problem for some voters, wary⁷ of having a succession of Clintons and Bushes in the White House.
　

Sen. Hillary Clinton at a campaign rally in New York, 3 Jun 2008

"Americans had serious questions about the dynasty issue," he noted. "They wondered, even Democrats⁸, liking⁹ the Clintons from the 1990's, wondered if it was really a good idea to give the presidency¹⁰ to just two families, passing it back and forth¹¹ between 1989 and potentially 2017."

Howard Fineman, Newsweek magazine senior Washington correspondent, says Obama was able to defeat Clinton mainly because he tapped into a strong desire across the country for change, while Clinton emphasized her experience.

"So, the debate in the Democratic primary has really been about who is the better agent, the more convincing agent of change and the one more likely to win the election, Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama," he explained. "So, it's a personality contest, but it is also one that has a deeply-rooted, fundamental concern, which is who can be the change agent."

At a time of economic uncertainly, an unpopular war in Iraq, and soaring gasoline prices, many Americans will be looking for change in November. Considering the ages of the candidates, with Obama, 46, and Republican John McCain, 71, the vote will also be about whether the country wants to usher¹² in a new generation of leadership.

Many analysts¹³ say Obama's relative lack of experience is a legitimate¹⁴ issue, and one that he will have to address. Arizona Senator John McCain is a well-known and well-respected war hero, with years of foreign policy experience in the Senate. But he is expected to be challenged by the close links he has to President Bush and his support for the Iraq war, both deeply unpopular.

For her part, Hillary Clinton now faces the challenge of accepting defeat, after coming achingly close to winning. She has not conceded defeat, but will likely sit down with Obama at some point to discuss how to best heal the wounds of the long primary season and unite Democrats to face McCain in November. She has indicated she would be willing to serve as vice¹⁵ president, a decision that will now be made by Senator Obama.

1 nomination   

n.提名，任命，提名权

参考例句：

• John is favourite to get the nomination for club president.约翰最有希望被提名为俱乐部主席。
• Few people pronounced for his nomination.很少人表示赞成他的提名。

2 nominee   

n.被提名者；被任命者；被推荐者

参考例句：

• His nominee for vice president was elected only after a second ballot.他提名的副总统在两轮投票后才当选。
• Mr.Francisco is standing as the official nominee for the post of District Secretary.弗朗西斯科先生是行政书记职位的正式提名人。

3 milestone   

n.里程碑；划时代的事件

参考例句：

• The film proved to be a milestone in the history of cinema.事实证明这部影片是电影史上的一个里程碑。
• I think this is a very important milestone in the relations between our two countries.我认为这是我们两国关系中一个十分重要的里程碑。

4 segregation   

n.隔离，种族隔离

参考例句：

• Many school boards found segregation a hot potato in the early 1960s.在60年代初，许多学校部门都觉得按水平分班是一个棘手的问题。
• They were tired to death of segregation and of being kicked around.他们十分厌恶种族隔离和总是被人踢来踢去。

5 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。

6 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

7 wary   

adj.谨慎的，机警的，小心的

参考例句：

• He is wary of telling secrets to others.他谨防向他人泄露秘密。
• Paula frowned,suddenly wary.宝拉皱了皱眉头，突然警惕起来。

8 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》

9 liking   

n.爱好；嗜好；喜欢

参考例句：

• The word palate also means taste or liking.Palate这个词也有“口味”或“嗜好”的意思。
• I must admit I have no liking for exaggeration.我必须承认我不喜欢夸大其词。

10 presidency   

n.总统(校长，总经理)的职位(任期)

参考例句：

• Roosevelt was elected four times to the presidency of the United States.罗斯福连续当选四届美国总统。
• Two candidates are emerging as contestants for the presidency.两位候选人最终成为总统职位竞争者。

11 forth   

adv.向前；向外，往外

参考例句：

• The wind moved the trees gently back and forth.风吹得树轻轻地来回摇晃。
• He gave forth a series of works in rapid succession.他很快连续发表了一系列的作品。

12 usher   

n.带位员，招待员；vt.引导，护送；vi.做招待，担任引座员

参考例句：

• The usher seated us in the front row.引座员让我们在前排就座。
• They were quickly ushered away.他们被迅速领开。

13 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。

14 legitimate   

adj.合法的，合理的，合乎逻辑的；v.使合法

参考例句：

• Sickness is a legitimate reason for asking for leave.生病是请假的一个正当的理由。
• That's a perfectly legitimate fear.怀有这种恐惧完全在情理之中。

15 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。