VOA常速英语2007年-Candidate Debates Define Positions

By Jeffrey Young
Washington, D.C.
22 November 2007
 

Presidential candidates have been confronting each other in a series of debates meant to give voters a sense of where each aspirant¹ stands on critical issues.  In this segment of "How America Elects," VOA's Jeffrey Young examines whether these encounters have achieved their purpose.

Jabs.

"She [Hillary Clinton] voted with [President] Bush and [Vice² President] Cheney!" said former North Carolina Democratic Senator John Edwards.

Jousts³.

"People are not attacking me because I am a woman,” stated Senator Clinton. “They are attacking me because I am ahead [in the polls]!"

And, of course, a chance for candidates to state their positions.

New Mexico Democratic Governor Bill Richardson declared, "Let us debate the issues that affect the American people."

All of that, and more, in the debates.

The 2008 presidential contest has more candidates – and more candidate debates – than any other recent race.

"Governor Romney, you have been spending the last year trying to fool people about your record!" said Arizona Republican Senator John McCain at one of their debates.

And there is an important reason for all of this clashing. Political communications consultant⁴ Peter Fenn explains. "This is the first time since 1952 that you have not had an incumbent⁵ president or vice president running on the ticket, and someone who is known [far in advance] as the [party's] nominee⁶. And so both parties [the Democratic and the Republican] are open.”

Because the field of candidates is so crowded, each contender uses the debates as a way to get attention, as American University's Candice Nelson notes. "What each candidate tries to do is to get a 'sound bite' during the debate that will be played over and over again on the media," she says.

Former Arkansas Republican Governor Mike Huckabee said of two fellow debaters, "I am more than content to let them fight all they want tonight, and shed each other's blood.  And then I will be ready to run for president." 

The present era of presidential debates began in 1976, when incumbent President Gerald Ford⁷ sparred with Democratic challenger Jimmy Carter. Debates have been part of presidential elections ever since.  But they are not structured as point-and-rebuttal arguments.  The format⁸ is more question and response, with other candidates commenting.

Since the 1988 election, the independent, nonpartisan Commission on Presidential Debates has run the three major pre-Election Day debates. That is still months away.

Debates have now spilled over from TV to the Internet. Candidate debates sponsored by CNN television and the website YouTube enable web users to pose questions to the candidates.

Both major parties have embraced this novel development. Between now and Election Day, many more debates will be held. And what will voters take away from these encounters?

American University's Candice Nelson predicts a familiar pattern. "If you look at the history of debates, what stands out is not what the candidates said, but the gaffes⁹ that they make."

Such as when former Republican President Gerald Ford said, "There is no Soviet¹⁰ domination of Eastern Europe" 

And the candidates – as well as the news media – are waiting to pounce¹¹ when someone stumbles.

1 aspirant   

n.热望者；adj.渴望的

参考例句：

• Any aspirant to the presidency here must be seriously rich.要想当这儿的主席一定要家财万贯。
• He is among the few aspirants with administrative experience.他是为数不多的几个志向远大而且有管理经验的人之一。

2 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。

3 jousts   

（骑士）骑着马用长矛打斗( joust的名词复数 )； 格斗，竞争

参考例句：

• The oil company jousts with Esso for lead position in UK sales. 这家石油公司和埃索公司角逐英国市场销量的榜首位置。 来自柯林斯例句
• There were notable jousts with the Secretary of Commerce. 和商业部长之间明显存在竞争。 来自柯林斯例句

4 consultant   

n.顾问；会诊医师，专科医生

参考例句：

• He is a consultant on law affairs to the mayor.他是市长的一个法律顾问。
• Originally,Gar had agreed to come up as a consultant.原来，加尔只答应来充当我们的顾问。

5 incumbent   

adj.成为责任的，有义务的；现任的，在职的

参考例句：

• He defeated the incumbent governor by a large plurality.他以压倒多数票击败了现任州长。
• It is incumbent upon you to warn them.你有责任警告他们。

6 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。

7 Ford   

n.浅滩，水浅可涉处；v.涉水，涉过

参考例句：

• They were guarding the bridge,so we forded the river.他们驻守在那座桥上，所以我们只能涉水过河。
• If you decide to ford a stream,be extremely careful.如果已决定要涉过小溪，必须极度小心。

8 format   

n.设计，版式；[计算机]格式，DOS命令:格式化(磁盘)，用于空盘或使用过的磁盘建立新空盘来存储数据；v.使格式化，设计，安排

参考例句：

• Please format this floppy disc.请将这张软盘格式化。
• The format of the figure is very tasteful.该图表的格式很雅致。

9 gaffes   

n.失礼，出丑( gaffe的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The presidential candidate made three mistakes, or gaffes, during his speech. 校长候选人在演讲中出了三次错，或失态。 来自超越目标英语 第4册
• When the microphones were on, gaffes gushed from his lips. 而当电话响起，他却口无遮拦，屡屡失言。 来自互联网

10 Soviet   

adj.苏联的，苏维埃的；n.苏维埃

参考例句：

• Zhukov was a marshal of the former Soviet Union.朱可夫是前苏联的一位元帅。
• Germany began to attack the Soviet Union in 1941.德国在1941年开始进攻苏联。

11 pounce   

n.猛扑；v.猛扑，突然袭击，欣然同意

参考例句：

• Why do you pounce on every single thing I say?干吗我说的每句话你都要找麻烦？
• We saw the tiger about to pounce on the goat.我们看见老虎要向那只山羊扑过去。