VOA双语新闻 - 麦凯恩和奥巴马出席晚宴互相调侃
时间：2019-02-14 作者：英语课 分类：VOA双语新闻 2008年10月
U.S. presidential candidates John McCain and Barack Obama took a lighthearted break from campaigning Thursday at a charity dinner in New York City. The Republican and Democratic party candidates poked 2 fun at each other and at themselves before an audience including many of the nation's leading political figures.
美国共和党总统候选人麦凯恩和民主党总统候选人奥巴马星期四在竞选活动中忙里偷闲，参加了纽约市的一个慈善晚宴，有美国的一些主要政界领袖。这两位候选人在晚宴上互相调侃，渡过了一段轻松的时光。
Senators McCain and Obama were on stage together for a second night in a row, following their third and final debate of the election campaign on Wednesday. But at the annual Al Smith memorial dinner, a political tradition in New York, the candidates were competing to see who could trigger the biggest laughs.
麦凯恩参议员和奥巴马参议员连续第二个晚上出现在同一个讲台上，星期三他们进行了第三轮，也是最后一轮总统辩论。星期四在史密斯纪念晚宴上，两位候选人相互比赛，看谁讲的笑话最能逗人大笑。这个晚宴已成为纽约市的政治传统。
McCain struck first.
首先是麦凯恩发言。
"A major announcement. Events are moving fast in my campaign, and yes, it's true that this morning I've dismissed my entire team of senior advisers 3," he joked. "All of their positions will now be held by a man named 'Joe the Plumber 4.'"
“公布一个重大消息，我的竞选班子事态发展非常迅速。是的，今天早上，我解雇了我的资深顾问团的全体成员。他们的职务现在全部由一个叫‘水管工人乔’的人接管。”
"Joe the Plumber" is a businessman from Ohio who challenged Obama at one of his campaign appearances, and who was invoked 5 repeatedly by both senators in their debate this week.
这个被称为“水管工人乔”的人是来自俄亥俄州的一位生意人，他在奥巴马出席的一次竞选活动中向奥巴马提出了挑战。在星期三的总统辩论中，两位总统候选人曾多次提到“水管工人乔”。
Obama, in turn, announced that his vice 6 presidential running mate, Senator Joseph Biden, now prefers to be known simply as "Joe the Senator."
奥巴马也开玩笑宣布，他的副总统竞选夥伴约瑟夫·拜登，现在希望人们称他为“参议员乔”，以示区别。
The Al Smith dinner honors a Democrat 1 who ran unsuccessfully for president 80 years ago and raises money for Catholic charities. The traditional gathering 7 attracts politicians from all parties, and only humorous speeches are allowed.
史密斯纪念晚宴是为了纪念80年前竞选总统失利的一位民主党人。晚宴上筹集的钱将用于天主教的慈善事业。这个传统的聚会吸引了来自各个党派的政界人士，晚宴上只允许幽默风趣的演讲。
In an earlier debate this month McCain referred to Obama, standing 8 near him onstage, not by name but as "that one" - a remark that some criticized as demeaning or even insulting. The Arizona senator joked on Thursday that he came up with the phrase after hearing that some of Obama's most ardent 9 supporters referred to him reverently 10 as "the one."
在这个月先前举行的一次辩论中，麦凯恩不称呼奥巴马的名字，而是把他说成“那一位”。当时，奥巴马站在讲台的另一端。一些人批评麦凯恩的说法有贬低，甚至侮辱的意味。来自亚利桑那州的麦凯恩参议员在星期四的晚宴上开玩笑说，他是听了奥巴马最坚定的支持者把奥巴马尊称为“要来的那一位”之后，才提出“那一位”的说法的。
"Being a friend and colleague of Barack, I just called him 'that one.' [laughter] My friends, he doesn't mind at all," McCain said. "In fact, he even has a pet name for me: George Bush."
“我是作为奥巴马的朋友和同事才称他为‘那一位’的。朋友们，他一点都不在意。事实上，他甚至也给我起了一个小名，那就是‘乔治·W·布什’。”
McCain also won laughs by slyly suggesting that former President Bill Clinton's support for Obama has been less than wholehearted, because the Illinois senator won his party's nomination 11 only after crushing the presidential hopes of Mr. Clinton's wife, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton.
Speaking after McCain, Obama surveyed the audience and said: "There is no other crowd in America that I'd rather be palling 12 around with right now."
麦凯恩讲话后，奥巴马环顾在坐的人说，“现在，在美国没有任何一群人比这群人让我更愿意与之结交的了。”
A wry 13 reference to allegations by McCain's running mate, Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, that Obama had been "palling around with" people once considered American terrorists.
奥巴马这么说带有挖苦的意味，因为麦凯恩的竞选搭档阿拉斯加州长佩林曾指责奥巴马和曾经被视为美国国内恐怖分子的人结交。
"It is a tribute to American democracy that with two weeks left in a hardfought election, the two of us could come together and sit down together at the same dinner table ... without preconditions," Obama kept his humor deadpan 14. "Now recently one of John's advisers told the Daily News [newspaper] that if we keep talking about the economy, McCain's going to lose. So tonight I'd like to talk about the economy."
奥巴马不露声色地讲著笑话，“这场艰难的美国大选就剩下两星期了，我们两位能够不带任何条件地坐在同一个晚宴桌前，这本身就是对美国民主的颂扬。最近麦凯恩的一位顾问对‘每日新闻’说，如果我们继续谈论经济问题，麦凯恩肯定会输。所以，今天晚上，我就来谈谈经济问题。”
The candidates laughed heartily 15 at each other's jokes, but they also spoke 16 warmly about their mutual 17 respect and admiration 18.
两位总统候选人对对方所讲的笑话都抱以开怀大笑，但是他们也表达了对彼此的尊重和仰慕。
McCain said Obama "is an impressive fellow in many ways."
麦凯恩说，奥巴马在很多方面都是一个令人钦佩的人。
"Political opponents can have a little trouble in seeing the best in each other, but I've had a few glimpses of this man at his best, and I admire his great skill, energy and determination," McCain said.
McCain said Senator Obama's campaign has made history.
他说，奥巴马的竞选创造了历史。
"There was a time when a mere 19 invitation of an African-American citizen to dine at the White House was taken as an outrage 20 and an insult in many quarters," he noted 21. "Today is a world away from the crude and prideful bigotry 22 of that time, and good riddance. I can't wish my opponent luck, but I do wish him well."
Obama reflected on the tough battles that have marked this presidential campaign.
奥巴马则回顾说，这次总统竞选活动的特点是，每一场战役都很艰难。
"But I've said before and I think it bears repeating, that there are very few of us who have served this country with the same dedication 23 and honor and distinction as Senator McCain," Obama said. "No matter what divisions or differences or arguments we're having right now, we ultimately belong to something bigger and more lasting 24 than a political party. We belong to a community. We share a country. We are all children of God."
- The Democrat and the Public criticized each other.民主党人和共和党人互相攻击。
- About two years later,he was defeated by Democrat Jimmy Carter.大约两年后，他被民主党人杰米卡特击败。
- She poked him in the ribs with her elbow. 她用胳膊肘顶他的肋部。
- His elbow poked out through his torn shirt sleeve. 他的胳膊从衬衫的破袖子中露了出来。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- a member of the President's favoured circle of advisers 总统宠爱的顾问班子中的一员
- She withdrew to confer with her advisers before announcing a decision. 她先去请教顾问然后再宣布决定。
- Have you asked the plumber to come and look at the leaking pipe?你叫管道工来检查漏水的管子了吗？
- The plumber screwed up the tap by means of a spanner.管子工用板手把龙头旋紧。
- It is unlikely that libel laws will be invoked. 不大可能诉诸诽谤法。
- She had invoked the law in her own defence. 她援引法律为自己辩护。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- 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。
- He called on Mr. White to speak at the gathering.他请怀特先生在集会上讲话。
- He is on the wing gathering material for his novels.他正忙于为他的小说收集资料。
- After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
- They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。
- He's an ardent supporter of the local football team.他是本地足球队的热情支持者。
- Ardent expectations were held by his parents for his college career.他父母对他的大学学习抱着殷切的期望。
- He gazed reverently at the handiwork. 他满怀敬意地凝视着这件手工艺品。
- Pork gazed at it reverently and slowly delight spread over his face. 波克怀着愉快的心情看着这只表，脸上慢慢显出十分崇敬的神色。
- John is favourite to get the nomination for club president.约翰最有希望被提名为俱乐部主席。
- Few people pronounced for his nomination.很少人表示赞成他的提名。
- It's good to see the two boys palling up so well. 看见这两个男孩这么要好真是惬意。 来自互联网
- He made a wry face and attempted to wash the taste away with coffee.他做了个鬼脸，打算用咖啡把那怪味地冲下去。
- Bethune released Tung's horse and made a wry mouth.白求恩放开了董的马，噘了噘嘴。
- Some people don't catch his deadpan humor,that makes it even funnier.有些人不能了解他那种无表情的幽默，因此更有趣。
- She put the letter on the desk in front of me,her face deadpan,not a flicker of a smile.她把那封信放在我面前的桌子上，故意一 脸严肃，没有一丝的笑容。
- He ate heartily and went out to look for his horse.他痛快地吃了一顿，就出去找他的马。
- The host seized my hand and shook it heartily.主人抓住我的手，热情地和我握手。
- They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
- The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。
- We must pull together for mutual interest.我们必须为相互的利益而通力合作。
- Mutual interests tied us together.相互的利害关系把我们联系在一起。
- He was lost in admiration of the beauty of the scene.他对风景之美赞不绝口。
- We have a great admiration for the gold medalists.我们对金牌获得者极为敬佩。
- That is a mere repetition of what you said before.那不过是重复了你以前讲的话。
- It's a mere waste of time waiting any longer.再等下去纯粹是浪费时间。
- When he heard the news he reacted with a sense of outrage.他得悉此事时义愤填膺。
- We should never forget the outrage committed by the Japanese invaders.我们永远都不应该忘记日本侵略者犯下的暴行。
- 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。
- She tried to dissociate herself from the bigotry in her past.她力图使自己摆脱她以前的偏见。
- At least we can proceed in this matter without bigotry.目前这件事咱们至少可以毫无偏见地进行下去。
- 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。