VOA标准英语2008年-McCain Works to Mend Long-Standing Rifts With C

Senator John McCain of Arizona will formally accept the Republican Party's presidential nomination¹ at their national convention in St. Paul, Minnesota, on Thursday. John McCain has not always been a favorite of conservative Republicans, but most appear to be rallying behind him now, as he prepares for the general election campaign against the Democratic candidate, Senator Barack Obama of Illinois. VOA National Correspondent Jim Malone has more from St. Paul.
　
Senator John McCain in Ohio, 02 Sep 2008

Republicans have long admired John McCain as a true American hero - a man who survived torture and repeated beatings while in captivity³ during the Vietnam War.

"I have always put my country first, and I will always do that," said John McCain.

But conservative Republicans have also had their share of battles with McCain over the years - whether it was his initial opposition⁴ to the Bush administration tax cuts or his support for a comprehensive solution to illegal immigration.

Mike Gallagher is a conservative radio talk show host who is anchoring his program this week from the Republican National Convention.

"There are two issues that a lot of us conservatives worry about with John McCain - illegal immigration and his penchant⁵ for reaching out to the global warming, the 'earth is on fire crowd.' Those are the two big ones for us," said Mike Gallagher.

McCain's decision to change his position on the Bush tax cuts has pleased economic conservatives like Grover Norquist, who heads an anti-tax group that has a lot of support from conservative Republicans.

"He had a couple of positions that were unhelpful, I think, bad for the country, but certainly unhelpful for his relationship with the Republican Party," said Grover Norquist. "On the other hand, that is spilled milk, that is water under the bridge, over the dam, that is done. As mistaken as it was, he is not trying to do more of it."

McCain's relations with social conservatives have also been strained over the years. In the past, he has referred to some religious conservatives as "agents of intolerance" and called into question their influence within the Republican Party.

Former Texas Congressman⁶ Tom DeLay had his share of clashes with McCain when DeLay was the Republican leader in the U.S. House of Representatives.

But DeLay says McCain's decision to pick Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as his running mate won him over.

"As a conservative, as I approached whether I was going to vote for John McCain, it was very difficult for me, because I disagree with him on so many issues," said Tom DeLay. "But when I look at the alternative, Barack Obama, it made it a little easier. I am going to vote for John McCain. And then picking Governor Palin just sealed it for me."

Palin's strong record as a social conservative opposed to abortion⁷ and in favor of gun ownership rights and traditional marriage has excited conservative activists⁸ throughout the Republican Party.

This is former senator Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania:

"Well, look, John McCain has taken a step toward us," said Rick Santorum. "I believe that people are policy in an administration. You know, who you put in as secretary of this or ambassador to this has a huge impact on the policy that comes out of your administration. And the fact that he picked Sarah Palin gives me some confidence that he is going to surround himself with some good people."

Washington-based political analyst⁹ Stuart Rothenberg says it is important for McCain to mend fences with conservatives in his party as he prepares for the general election campaign against Democrat² Barack Obama.

"Well, I do not think they have personally given him a big hug and a big kiss," said Stuart Rothenberg. "But I think that, over the past few days, they have - because of the Palin selection and because of his rhetoric¹⁰ over the past few months - they have become comfortable with them. So is he now their Number One choice? Are they really 'McCainiacs' [pro McCain]? No. But they have reached a comfort factor that it is important for them and important for him."

Social conservatives, and especially religious voters, were a major factor in President Bush's election victories in 2000 and 2004. Republican strategists say one of McCain's challenges will be getting a similar turnout of religious conservatives this year.

 

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 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 captivity   

n.囚禁；被俘；束缚

参考例句：

• A zoo is a place where live animals are kept in captivity for the public to see.动物园是圈养动物以供公众观看的场所。
• He was held in captivity for three years.他被囚禁叁年。

4 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。

5 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。

6 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。

7 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。

8 activists   

n.（政治活动的）积极分子，活动家( activist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His research work was attacked by animal rights activists . 他的研究受到了动物权益维护者的抨击。
• Party activists with lower middle class pedigrees are numerous. 党的激进分子中有很多出身于中产阶级下层。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 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。

10 rhetoric   

n.修辞学，浮夸之言语

参考例句：

• Do you know something about rhetoric?你懂点修辞学吗？
• Behind all the rhetoric,his relations with the army are dangerously poised.在冠冕堂皇的言辞背后，他和军队的关系岌岌可危。