奥巴马寻求民众支持就业计划

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.

美国总统奥巴马目前已经开始就他提出的增加就业、让美国经济起飞的计划寻求公众的支持，他的首站就是离首都华盛顿不远的、位于维吉尼亚州的理士满。

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

奥巴马总统在对国会参众两院发表了就业计划演说之后的几个小时内，即离开华盛顿，直接到民间去“游说”。

“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.”

奥巴马总统说：“这就是美国就业法案。无论是建筑工人、教师、还是退役军人、年青人、以及长期就业无门的那些人，都能在这一法案的帮助下，找到工作。这一法案同时还将给企业和职工都带来税收上的好处，而且不会增加联邦赤字。”

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

维吉尼亚州被认为是在2012年的大选中仍然摇摆不定的一个州，而正是这些摇摆不定的州，将决定明年总统大选的结局。

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

与此同时，理士满还是美国众议院第二号领袖人物埃里克·坎托的老家。坎托是批评奥巴马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.

这次理士满之行之前，奥巴马总统邀请坎托在理士满大学同台，但是，坎托婉拒了奥巴马的邀请，而是决定出席在理士满大学附近举行的另外一场活动。

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.

不过，在星期五出版的理士满地方报纸上，坎托发表署名文章说，奥巴马总统就业法案中的一部分内容，他觉得可以支持；其他部分，坎托说，可以讨论。

The president welcomed Cantor’s response.

对于坎托的这番表白，奥巴马表示欢迎。

“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.”

他说：“我很高兴一些共和党人，包括你们选区的议员在内，说我们有合作的空间。对我提出的创造就业机会的法案中的一些内容，这些共和党议员说，可以商量，这在我看来是积极的。”

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

自从奥巴马总统2009年初入主白宫以来，美国国会里的共和党人对他所提出的几乎所有经济领域的提案，都表示反对，坚决不同意提高政府开支、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，碰到提高联邦政府借贷上限的问题，按说是常规性质的，但是这一次双方僵持了好几个星期之后，终于通过了相关的法案，但是，美国的信誉受到重创，标准普尔评估公司将美国政府的借贷信用评级首度降低。Public opinion polls show that a vast majority of Americans are unhappy about the way Democrats and Republicans in Washington are handling economic issues.

美国国内的民意调查显示，美国人当中绝大多数都对华盛顿民主共和两党在处理经济问题上的方式方法，表示不满。

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.

奥巴马总统在民众当中的支持率，目前也是他就任以来最低的。一些民意调查显示，共和党人有望在明年的总统大选中，将他击败。

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.

经济上依然一蹶不振，失业率徘徊在9%，奥巴马总统没有能力将国家带出目前的困境。这些都是奥巴马总统目前面临的问题。

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

在维吉尼亚州的理士满，奥巴马总统对群众讲话的时候，似乎充满着竞选的热情。他呼吁国会采取行动，让就业计划得以实施。

“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.”

奥巴马总统说：“假如你们想要在税收上有所减免的话，那么，就请通过这项法案。拿出证据来，证明你们将以同样的力度，为工薪阶层和中产阶级减免税收，而不只是为那些石油公司和富人努力。通过这项法案，作些实事儿。”

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

与此同时，奥巴马总统呼吁支持他的选民给议员们施加压力，力争让他提出的就业法案得以在国会顺利通过。

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

理士满之行将是奥巴马的第一站，而不是最后一站。在今后的时日里，他将到美国各地“游说”，力争取得各方面的支持，使得他提出的就业法案得以顺利通过。

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

下一站将是美国中部俄亥俄州的首府哥伦布。俄亥俄州是另一个摇摆不定、但是将在明年的总统大选中起关键作用的州。