奧巴馬尋求民衆支持就業計劃

President Barack Obama has begun trying to build public support for his plan to ease unemployment and boost the U.S. economy. The president started the campaign Friday in nearby Richmond, Virginia.

美國總統奧巴馬目前已經開始就他提出的增加就業、讓美國經濟起飛的計劃尋求公衆的支持，他的首站就是離首都華盛頓不遠的、位於維吉尼亞州的理士滿。

Hours after laying out his $447 billion jobs plan to a joint session of Congress, President Obama took his case directly to the public.

奧巴馬總統在對國會參衆兩院發表了就業計劃演說之後的幾個小時內，即離開華盛頓，直接到民間去“遊說”。

“So this is the American Jobs Act," said President Obama. "It will lead to new jobs for construction workers, teachers, veterans, young people and the long-term unemployed. [It will] provide tax credits to businesses and workers. And it will not add to the deficit. It will be paid for.”

奧巴馬總統說：“這就是美國就業法案。無論是建築工人、教師、還是退役軍人、年青人、以及長期就業無門的那些人，都能在這一法案的幫助下，找到工作。這一法案同時還將給企業和職工都帶來稅收上的好處，而且不會增加聯邦赤字。”

Virginia is considered one of the “swing states” where next year’s election could be decided.

維吉尼亞州被認爲是在2012年的大選中仍然搖擺不定的一個州，而正是這些搖擺不定的州，將決定明年總統大選的結局。

Richmond is the home city of the number-two House Republican, Majority Leader Eric Cantor, one of Mr. Obama’s fiercest critics.

與此同時，理士滿還是美國衆議院第二號領袖人物埃裏克·坎託的老家。坎託是批評奧巴馬最不留情的人士之一。

The president invited Cantor to join him in his appearance at the University of Richmond, but the lawmaker declined, attending a separate event nearby.

這次理士滿之行之前，奧巴馬總統邀請坎託在理士滿大學同臺，但是，坎託婉拒了奧巴馬的邀請，而是決定出席在理士滿大學附近舉行的另外一場活動。

However, in an opinion piece in Friday’s Richmond Times-Dispatch newspaper, Cantor indicated that he is willing to support some parts of Mr. Obama’s plan, and to discuss others.

不過，在星期五出版的理士滿地方報紙上，坎託發表署名文章說，奧巴馬總統就業法案中的一部分內容，他覺得可以支持；其他部分，坎託說，可以討論。

The president welcomed Cantor’s response.

對於坎託的這番表白，奧巴馬錶示歡迎。

“To their credit, I was glad to hear some Republicans, including your congressman, say that they see room for us to work together," said Obama. "They said that they are open to some of the proposals to create American jobs.”

他說：“我很高興一些共和黨人，包括你們選區的議員在內，說我們有合作的空間。對我提出的創造就業機會的法案中的一些內容，這些共和黨議員說，可以商量，這在我看來是積極的。”

Since Mr. Obama took office in 2009, Republicans in Congress have rejected almost all of his economic proposals, objecting to increased spending and deficits.

自從奧巴馬總統2009年初入主白宮以來，美國國會裏的共和黨人對他所提出的幾乎所有經濟領域的提案，都表示反對，堅決不同意提高政府開支、增加赤字。

In July, what is usually a routine agreement to raise the amount of money the government can borrow turned into a weeks-long legislative battle. Afterward, the S&P credit agency downgraded the rating for U.S. government debt for the first time in history.

今年七月份，碰到提高聯邦政府借貸上限的問題，按說是常規性質的，但是這一次雙方僵持了好幾個星期之後，終於通過了相關的法案，但是，美國的信譽受到重創，標準普爾評估公司將美國政府的借貸信用評級首度降低。Public opinion polls show that a vast majority of Americans are unhappy about the way Democrats and Republicans in Washington are handling economic issues.

美國國內的民意調查顯示，美國人當中絕大多數都對華盛頓民主共和兩黨在處理經濟問題上的方式方法，表示不滿。

Mr. Obama’s approval ratings are the lowest of his presidency, and polls show that Republicans have a realistic chance of defeating his re-election bid next year.

奧巴馬總統在民衆當中的支持率，目前也是他就任以來最低的。一些民意調查顯示，共和黨人有望在明年的總統大選中，將他擊敗。

A stagnant economy, a jobless rate stuck around nine percent, and a public perception that Mr. Obama is helpless to solve them are contributing to his political problems.

經濟上依然一蹶不振，失業率徘徊在9%，奧巴馬總統沒有能力將國家帶出目前的困境。這些都是奧巴馬總統目前面臨的問題。

In Richmond, with the fervor of a political campaign, the president demanded action from Congress on his jobs plan.

在維吉尼亞州的理士滿，奧巴馬總統對羣衆講話的時候，似乎充滿着競選的熱情。他呼籲國會採取行動，讓就業計劃得以實施。

“If you want a tax break, pass this bill," he said. "Prove you will fight as hard for tax cuts for workers and middle-class people as you do for oil companies and rich folks. Pass this bill. Let’s get something done.”

奧巴馬總統說：“假如你們想要在稅收上有所減免的話，那麼，就請通過這項法案。拿出證據來，證明你們將以同樣的力度，爲工薪階層和中產階級減免稅收，而不只是爲那些石油公司和富人努力。通過這項法案，作些實事兒。”

He also urged his supporters to put pressure on their lawmakers to pass the initiative.

與此同時，奧巴馬總統呼籲支持他的選民給議員們施加壓力，力爭讓他提出的就業法案得以在國會順利通過。

The visit to Richmond was the first of what will likely be many presidential trips around the country to promote the jobs legislation.

理士滿之行將是奧巴馬的第一站，而不是最後一站。在今後的時日裏，他將到美國各地“遊說”，力爭取得各方面的支持，使得他提出的就業法案得以順利通過。

The second will be next Tuesday in Columbus, Ohio, the capital of another swing state.

下一站將是美國中部俄亥俄州的首府哥倫布。俄亥俄州是另一個搖擺不定、但是將在明年的總統大選中起關鍵作用的州。