VOA标准英语2009年-Obama Takes on Health Care Reform Critics

The debate in the United States over health care reform is growing more heated, and President Barack Obama is making an all-out effort to cool the rhetoric¹ and save his legislative² priority. Mr. Obama is taking his case directly to the public.

The debate, in some cases, has turned ugly.

Members of Congress are hearing strong opinions in community meetings with angry constituents³.

At one such meeting on Tuesday morning in Pennsylvania, Senator Arlen Spector - a Republican, recently-turned-Democrat - came face-to-face with a screaming protester. As a security guard stood nearby, the man raged at the senator.

"I am not a lobbyist with all kinds of money to stuff in your pocket, so that you can cheat the citizens of this country. So I'll leave and you do whatever the hell you please to do," said the protester.
　
Police escort a demonstrator behind a barricade⁴ outside health care meeting led by Pres. Barack Obama, Portsmouth, N.H., 11 Aug 2009

The scene was more sedate⁵ a few hours later when President Obama took questions from the citizens of Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

There were no protesters at this town meeting and no hecklers. But Mr.Obama used the opportunity to comment on the tone of the national debate.

"There has been a long and vigorous debate about this. And that is how it should be. That is what America is about, is we have a vigorous debate. That is why we have a democracy. But I do hope that we will talk with each other and not over each other," he said.

The president said health care reform deserves serious consideration. He said a lot of misinformation is being spread by critics of reform, adding that it is necessary to clear the air.

"Where we do disagree, let's disagree over things that are real, not these wild misrepresentations that bear no resemblance to anything that has actually been proposed," he added.
　
Pres. Barack Obama listens to a question at town hall meeting about health car in Portsmouth, N.H., 11 Aug 2009

Mr. Obama sought to dispel⁶ the notion that he wants the federal government to control all health care, or that he plans to radically⁷ cut the government program that already subsidizes medical care for the elderly.

He said opponents of health care reform are spreading such rumors⁸ in an effort to scare the American public.

"For all the scare tactics out there, what is truly scary, what is truly risky⁹ is if we do nothing!" He said.

The Obama administration is fighting back with a series of presidential events this week on health care, starting with the community meeting in New Hampshire. At the same time, it is bolstering¹⁰ the White House Internet site to respond directly to questions and concerns about the reform process.

1 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。

2 legislative   

n.立法机构，立法权；adj.立法的，有立法权的

参考例句：

• Congress is the legislative branch of the U.S. government.国会是美国政府的立法部门。
• Today's hearing was just the first step in the legislative process.今天的听证会只是展开立法程序的第一步。

3 constituents   

n.选民( constituent的名词复数 )；成分；构成部分；要素

参考例句：

• She has the full support of her constituents. 她得到本区选民的全力支持。
• Hydrogen and oxygen are the constituents of water. 氢和氧是水的主要成分。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 barricade   

n.路障，栅栏，障碍；vt.设路障挡住

参考例句：

• The soldiers make a barricade across the road.士兵在路上设路障。
• It is difficult to break through a steel barricade.冲破钢铁障碍很难。

5 sedate   

adj.沉着的，镇静的，安静的

参考例句：

• After the accident,the doctor gave her some pills to sedate her.事故发生后，医生让她服了些药片使她镇静下来。
• We spent a sedate evening at home.我们在家里过了一个恬静的夜晚。

6 dispel   

vt.驱走，驱散，消除

参考例句：

• I tried in vain to dispel her misgivings.我试图消除她的疑虑，但没有成功。
• We hope the programme will dispel certain misconceptions about the disease.我们希望这个节目能消除对这种疾病的一些误解。

7 radically   

ad.根本地，本质地

参考例句：

• I think we may have to rethink our policies fairly radically. 我认为我们可能要对我们的政策进行根本的反思。
• The health service must be radically reformed. 公共医疗卫生服务必须进行彻底改革。

8 rumors   

n.传闻( rumor的名词复数 )；[古]名誉；咕哝；[古]喧嚷v.传闻( rumor的第三人称单数 )；[古]名誉；咕哝；[古]喧嚷

参考例句：

• Rumors have it that the school was burned down. 有谣言说学校给烧掉了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Rumors of a revolt were afloat. 叛变的谣言四起。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 risky   

adj.有风险的，冒险的

参考例句：

• It may be risky but we will chance it anyhow.这可能有危险，但我们无论如何要冒一冒险。
• He is well aware how risky this investment is.他心里对这项投资的风险十分清楚。

10 bolstering   

v.支持( bolster的现在分词 )；支撑；给予必要的支持；援助

参考例句：

• Why should Donahue's people concern themselves with bolstering your image? 唐纳休的人为什么要费心维护你的形象？ 来自辞典例句
• He needed bolstering and support. 他需要别人助他一臂之力。 来自辞典例句