VOA标准英语2012--Caucus Protesters Target Republican Candidates

Caucus¹ Protesters Target Republican Candidates

As Republican presidential candidates cross the Midwestern state of Iowa before the January 3rd caucus, they are greeted by supporters and demonstrators at campaign events. Police arrested scores during so-called Occupy the Caucus protests in the week before the nation's first event in this year's presidential election process.

Political science student Jessica Reznicek considers herself a career activist². “You really have to care about what you are doing and really being O.K. with not receiving any money in return, it is a lot of dedication³ and enthusiasm," she said.

Her dedication was on display outside Republican presidential candidate Michelle Bachmann’s campaign headquarters in suburban⁴ Des Moines. “You have to go there and you have to put your voices and your bodies on the line, and make a statement wherever that candidate is and say that we are more important than him or her," she said.

Occupy the Caucus protesters traveled by bus to Bachmann’s office to protest corporate⁵ political campaign influence. When protesters ignored warnings they were trespassing⁶, police moved in and arrested 10.

Reznicek never had a chance to air her concerns to Bachmann; the congresswoman stayed inside her campaign headquarters.

It was the latest in a series of protests by Occupy the Caucus that ended in much the same way, protesters making their way to candidate offices, only to leave by police car. “We are just trying to open the conversation, and if that means some of my friends get arrested to get the reporters here, then that is what they will do," says Dutch Ruisch.

Dutch Ruisch says one tactic⁷ of the Occupy movement during the Iowa caucuses⁸ is to use the increased media presence to draw politicians into debate about the protesters' issues. “I cannot afford $1,000 a plate to hear some candidates speak," he said. "Why do candidates not listen to us because we do not have the money?”

Despite the arrests on the campaign trail, Occupy the Caucus protesters say they have no intention of disrupting the January 3rd Caucus.

“We will not disrupt the caucus at all. We respect the privilege and the right that Americans have to vote," said Ruisch.

Ruish says the anger of the Occupy movement is not solely⁹ targeted at Republicans. They also targeted the offices of Democratic lawmakers in Iowa. “We are pretty disgusted with Obama," he said. "He promised 'hope,' he promised 'change.' What has he done?

Ruisch says more than 1,000 people have participated in Occupy events in the past several days, and he expects more protesters in Des Moines before Republican voters gather Tuesday to choose their favorite candidate.

1 caucus   

n.秘密会议；干部会议；v.（参加）干部开会议

参考例句：

• This multi-staged caucus takes several months.这个多级会议常常历时好几个月。
• It kept the Democratic caucus from fragmenting.它也使得民主党的核心小组避免了土崩瓦解的危险。

2 activist   

n.活动分子，积极分子

参考例句：

• He's been a trade union activist for many years.多年来他一直是工会的积极分子。
• He is a social activist in our factory.他是我厂的社会活动积极分子。

3 dedication   

n.奉献，献身，致力，题献，献辞

参考例句：

• We admire her courage,compassion and dedication.我们钦佩她的勇气、爱心和奉献精神。
• Her dedication to her work was admirable.她对工作的奉献精神可钦可佩。

4 suburban   

adj.城郊的，在郊区的

参考例句：

• Suburban shopping centers were springing up all over America. 效区的商业中心在美国如雨后春笋般地兴起。
• There's a lot of good things about suburban living.郊区生活是有许多优点。

5 corporate   

adj.共同的，全体的；公司的，企业的

参考例句：

• This is our corporate responsibility.这是我们共同的责任。
• His corporate's life will be as short as a rabbit's tail.他的公司的寿命是兔子尾巴长不了。

6 trespassing   

[法]非法入侵

参考例句：

• He told me I was trespassing on private land. 他说我在擅闯私人土地。
• Don't come trespassing on my land again. 别再闯入我的地界了。

7 tactic   

n.战略，策略；adj.战术的，有策略的

参考例句：

• Reducing prices is a common sales tactic.降价是常用的销售策略。
• She had often used the tactic of threatening to resign.她惯用以辞职相威胁的手法。

8 caucuses   

n.（政党决定政策或推举竞选人的）核心成员( caucus的名词复数 )；决策干部；决策委员会；秘密会议

参考例句：

• Republican caucuses will happen in about 410 towns across Maine. 共和党团会议选举将在缅因州的约410个城镇进行。 来自互联网

9 solely   

adv.仅仅，唯一地

参考例句：

• Success should not be measured solely by educational achievement.成功与否不应只用学业成绩来衡量。
• The town depends almost solely on the tourist trade.这座城市几乎完全靠旅游业维持。