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VOA标准英语2012--Washington Insider Susan Rice Could Face Tough Nomination Battle

时间：2012-12-05 05:47:04

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Washington Insider Susan Rice Could Face Tough Nomination1 Battle

Ambassador Rice has been a Washington insider practically since birth. She grew up in affluent2 Washington circles, the daughter of a governor of the Federal Reserve System. She distinguished3 herself academically at Stanford University in California and in her post-graduate work at Oxford4 University in England.

Her political star was rising, first during Bill Clinton’s administration as one of his special assistants, then as an assistant secretary of state for African Affairs.

She was an early supporter and advisor5 to then-candidate Barack Obama and became his United Nations ambassador in January 2009.

American University professor and author David Bosco says Rice has a strong resumé as well as a close relationship with President Obama. 

"She understands how the U.S. foreign policy machine works, and I think that’s extremely valuable," Bosco said. "Her relationship with the president is also very valuable. That’s a real asset for a secretary of state, because when she interacts with foreign leaders, foreign diplomats7, they know it is likely there is very little daylight between her and the president.”

At the United Nations, Rice has traded barbs8 with her Russian counterpart and is known to be a tough negotiator. Her diplomatic style has been described as ‘no-nonsense’ and ‘abrasive.’ But David Bosco believes her personality would not define her if she became the top American diplomat6.

"The position carries such weight, that whether she is an engaging personality, or outgoing, gregarious9, is something that I think isn’t going to be highly relevant for her success as secretary," Bosco said.

After the September 11 attack on the U.S. consulate10 in Benghazi, Rice suddenly found herself at the center of a battle between the White House and Capitol Hill Republicans.

Republican Senators, including South Carolina’s Lindsey Graham, say they will oppose her nomination based in part on comments she made on several American news programs five days after the attack that killed four Americans.

“I don’t think she deserves to be promoted," Graham said. "There are a lot of qualified11 people in this country the president could pick, but I am dead set on making sure we don’t promote anybody that was an essential player in the Benghazi debacle.”

A meeting between the senators and Ambassador Rice did not appear to ease their doubts. But she still has the support of President Obama.

“Susan Rice is extraordinary. Couldn’t be prouder of the job she’s done,” the president said. 


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1 nomination BHMxw     
n.提名，任命，提名权
参考例句：
  • 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。
2 affluent 9xVze     
adj.富裕的，富有的，丰富的，富饶的
参考例句：
  • He hails from an affluent background.他出身于一个富有的家庭。
  • His parents were very affluent.他的父母很富裕。
3 distinguished wu9z3v     
adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的
参考例句：
  • Elephants are distinguished from other animals by their long noses.大象以其长长的鼻子显示出与其他动物的不同。
  • A banquet was given in honor of the distinguished guests.宴会是为了向贵宾们致敬而举行的。
4 Oxford Wmmz0a     
n.牛津（英国城市）
参考例句：
  • At present he has become a Professor of Chemistry at Oxford.他现在已是牛津大学的化学教授了。
  • This is where the road to Oxford joins the road to London.这是去牛津的路与去伦敦的路的汇合处。
5 advisor JKByk     
n.顾问，指导老师，劝告者
参考例句：
  • They employed me as an advisor.他们聘请我当顾问。
  • The professor is engaged as a technical advisor.这位教授被聘请为技术顾问。
6 diplomat Pu0xk     
n.外交官，外交家；能交际的人，圆滑的人
参考例句：
  • The diplomat threw in a joke, and the tension was instantly relieved.那位外交官插进一个笑话，紧张的气氛顿时缓和下来。
  • He served as a diplomat in Russia before the war.战前他在俄罗斯当外交官。
7 diplomats ccde388e31f0f3bd6f4704d76a1c3319     
n.外交官( diplomat的名词复数 )；有手腕的人，善于交际的人
参考例句：
  • These events led to the expulsion of senior diplomats from the country. 这些事件导致一些高级外交官被驱逐出境。
  • The court has no jurisdiction over foreign diplomats living in this country. 法院对驻本国的外交官无裁判权。 来自《简明英汉词典》
8 barbs 56032de71c59b706e1ec6d4b8b651f33     
n.（箭头、鱼钩等的）倒钩( barb的名词复数 )；带刺的话；毕露的锋芒；钩状毛
参考例句：
  • She slung barbs at me. 她说了些讥刺我的话。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • I would no longer uncomplainingly accept their barbs or allow their unaccountable power to go unchallenged. 我不会再毫无怨言地洗耳恭听他们带刺的话，或让他们的不负责任的权力不受到挑战。 来自辞典例句
9 gregarious DfuxO     
adj.群居的，喜好群居的
参考例句：
  • These animals are highly gregarious.这些动物非常喜欢群居。
  • They are gregarious birds and feed in flocks.它们是群居鸟类，会集群觅食。
10 consulate COwzC     
n.领事馆
参考例句：
  • The Spanish consulate is the large white building opposite the bank.西班牙领事馆是银行对面的那栋高大的白色建筑物。
  • The American consulate was a magnificent edifice in the centre of Bordeaux.美国领事馆是位于波尔多市中心的一座宏伟的大厦。
11 qualified DCPyj     
adj.合格的，有资格的，胜任的，有限制的
参考例句：
  • He is qualified as a complete man of letters.他有资格当真正的文学家。
  • We must note that we still lack qualified specialists.我们必须看到我们还缺乏有资质的专家。

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