VOA标准英语2008年-Former Presidential Candidate Challenges GOP to

While Republicans gathered for their convention in St. Paul Tuesday, former Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul held a rally across the Mississippi River in the city of Minneapolis, challenging Republicans to re-evaluate their ideals. VOA's Greg Flakus reports from Minneapolis, some supporters hope Paul's libertarian movement may someday evolve Into a third political party.
　
Ron Paul (file)

With supporters singing his praises at a daylong rally, it might seem that Ron Paul is ready to launch an independent campaign for the presidency¹. But the Texas congressman² says he remains³ a Republican committed to taking the party back to its true conservative principles, even though he says the party does not want him at the convention and restricted his access to the convention area where delegates gather, called the floor.

"My floor privileges have been strictly⁴ limited, and over the years, as a Republican congressman - I have been elected 10 times - I always got floor passes. I could go and come as I pleased. They have given me a pass, which is second class," he said.

Paul supporters range from anti-big-government activists⁵ who reject both parties to those who identify themselves as Republicans bent⁶ on bringing their party back to its basic Libertarian principles. One participant at the rally, former Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura, favors neither the Republicans nor the Democrats⁷. He says Ron Paul could help launch an effective independent party for future elections.

"He is the cornerstone of a movement here in the United States, and I am a great believer that we certainly need more than two choices," he explained. "I think, politically, he and I would agree much more than we would disagree on any subject."

Some people attending the rally, like this man, want to challenge the politicians who currently hold sway in both major parties, and who run the government in Washington.

"We are going to fight them, we are going to find a candidate to run against these people," he said.

But Kathryn Kist, an alternate delegate to the Republican convention from Kansas, wants to promote change from within her party by emphasizing core Libertarian principles.

"Smaller government, lower taxes, more personal responsibility, a lot fewer welfare handouts⁸, just taking care of your own," she noted⁹.

Steve Rogers is a Republican convention delegate who came to the Ron Paul rally to show his support for what he regards as true conservative principles.

"We are going to have to drag the Republican Party kicking and screaming back to its conservative principles because a lot of the leadership is not conservative."

Rogers says one area of disagreement with the party is involvement in foreign wars like Iraq.

"Ron Paul voted to go into Afghanistan. We are not against what legitimately¹¹ needs to be done, but there are so many places where we have no legitimate¹⁰ business," he added.

Ron Paul's opposition¹² to the Iraq war, based on the principle of limiting government's use of power, drew support from thousands of young people, many of whom started Internet blogs and video projects in support of his cause. Even though they failed to elect their candidate, Paul supporters remain energized¹³. They say they are fighting for personal liberty and strict adherence¹⁴ to the constitution and they will not give up.

 

1 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。

2 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。

3 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。

4 strictly   

adv.严厉地，严格地；严密地

参考例句：

• His doctor is dieting him strictly.他的医生严格规定他的饮食。
• The guests were seated strictly in order of precedence.客人严格按照地位高低就座。

5 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》

6 bent   

n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的

参考例句：

• He was fully bent upon the project.他一心扑在这项计划上。
• We bent over backward to help them.我们尽了最大努力帮助他们。

7 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》

8 handouts   

救济品( handout的名词复数 )； 施舍物； 印刷品； 讲义

参考例句：

• Soldiers oversee the food handouts. 士兵们看管着救济食品。
• Even after losing his job, he was too proud to accept handouts. 甚至在失去工作后，他仍然很骄傲，不愿接受施舍。

9 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。

10 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。

11 legitimately   

ad.合法地；正当地，合理地

参考例句：

• The radio is legitimately owned by the company. 该电台为这家公司所合法拥有。
• She looked for nothing save what might come legitimately and without the appearance of special favour. 她要的并不是男人们的额外恩赐，而是合法正当地得到的工作。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹

12 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。

13 energized   

v.给予…精力，能量( energize的过去式和过去分词 )；使通电

参考例句：

• We are energized by love if we put our energy into loving. 如果我们付出能量去表现爱意，爱就会使我们充满活力。 来自辞典例句
• I am completely energized and feeling terrific. 我充满了活力，感觉非常好。 来自辞典例句

14 adherence   

n.信奉，依附，坚持，固着

参考例句：

• He was well known for his adherence to the rules.他因遵循这些规定而出名。
• The teacher demanded adherence to the rules.老师要求学生们遵守纪律。