您现在的位置: Language Tips> Audio & Video> Normal Speed News  
   
 





 
Obama takes on health care reform critics
[ 2009-08-12 14:32 ]

codebase="http://activex.microsoft.com/activex/controls/mplayer/en/nsmp2inf.cab#Version=6,4,5,715"

standby="Loading Microsoft Windows Media Player components...">

pluginspage="http://www.microsoft.com/isapi/redir.dll?prd=windows&ampsbp=mediaplayer&ampar=media&ampsba=plugin&"

name="MediaPlayer" volume="80" autostart="0">

Download

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 rhetoric and save his legislative priority. Mr. Obama is taking his case directly to the public.

The debate is getting hotter. In some cases, it has turned ugly.

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

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.

Obama takes on health care reform critics

The scene was more sedate 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.

Obama takes on health care reform critics

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

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

"For all the scare tactics out there, what is truly scary, what is truly risky 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 bolstering the White House Internet site to respond directly to questions and concerns about the reform process.

rhetoric: 言论

heckler: 激烈质问者;起哄者,扰乱分子

Related stories:

Obama: Small businesses need health care reform

Obama campaigns for health care reform, predicts victory in September

Obama pushes for healthcare reform

Obama seeks health reform with new industry support

(Source: VOA 英语点津编辑)

英语点津版权说明:凡注明来源为“英语点津:XXX(署名)”的原创作品,除与中国日报网签署英语点津内容授权协议的网站外,其他任何网站或单位未经允许不得非法盗链、转载和使用,违者必究。如需使用,请与010-84883631联系;凡本网注明“来源:XXX(非英语点津)”的作品,均转载自其它媒体,目的在于传播更多信息,其他媒体如需转载,请与稿件来源方联系,如产生任何问题与本网无关;本网所发布的歌曲、电影片段,版权归原作者所有,仅供学习与研究,如果侵权,请提供版权证明,以便尽快删除。
相关文章 Related Story
 
 
 
本频道最新推荐
 
游戏“工人” playbourer
世界最长寿狗喜庆26岁生日
Under my skin
首映式 premiere
Westlife 西城男孩
翻吧推荐
 
论坛热贴
 
50个技巧改变你的2009
盂蘭節怎么翻译?
中国日报小D机器人上线啦
how to translate "死猪不怕开水烫"?
这些英文表达 搞错很尴尬