今年正好是四年一度美国大选年。星期一晚上,民主党候选人希拉里和共和党候选人川普举行了第一次总统辩论。据说全美国预计将有1亿人观看此次总统辩论,甚至可能打破美国历史最高收视纪录——2015年超级碗决赛的1.14亿人。我也是第一次观看现场直播的总统辩论,两位候选人唇枪舌战、互相伤害,嘴架打得好不热闹。正好借着这个话题,随便聊聊美国大选。
顺便说一下,第一场辩论在纽约州Hempstead地区的Hofstra University举办,一所我从没听说过的大学。我挺奇怪,为什么不在哥大或者NYU这样的知名大学举办?后来听说是Hofstra University花了1400万美元买下第一场总统辩论会的承办权,算是对学校知名度的一次全国推广吧,这学校也是蛮拼的。后两场辩论分别在密苏里州的Washington University in St. Louis和内华达州的University of Nevada, Las Vegas。如果Harvard或Yale花这么多钱去打这种广告,肯定会被校友骂死。
Deplorable一词的意思是very bad in a way that causes shock, fear, or disgust. 希拉里在一次竞选演讲中声称川普的支持者里,有一半是"basket of deplorables",并且后面还加了一系列名词,“they are racist, sexist, homophobic, xenophobic,
Islamaphobic, you name it "。意思就是“这些人是种族歧视者、性别歧视者、恐同者、恐外者、恐绿者,不一而足”。这话说的确实有点重了,川普的团队就抓住希拉里的这次失言,起了个宣传口号“Les Deplorables”,取自雨果的名著《悲惨世界》(Les Miserables),比喻川普要带领草根民众,像攻破巴士底狱那样打破左派精英的政治垄断。川普每到一地展开竞选宣传,都要在音乐剧《Les Miserables》中悲凉雄壮的主题曲"Do you hear the people sing"的伴奏下走上演讲台,撩得台下民众气氛沸腾,也真是够能折腾的!
八、辩论观感
Last question by Mr. Karl Becker: 'Can you name one positive thing you respect in one another?'
Here's what they had to say:
Hillary Clinton:
"I respect his children. His children are incredibly able and devoted and I think that says a lot about Donald. I don't agree with nearly anything else he says or does, but I do respect that and I think that's something that as a mother and a grandmother that's very important to me.
So I believe that this election has become in part so conflict-oriented, so intense, because there's a lot at stake. This is not an ordinary time and this is not an ordinary election.
We are going to be choosing a president who will set policy for -- not just for eight years but because of some the important decisions we have to make here at home and around the world, from the Supreme Court to energy and so much else, and so there is a lot at stake. It's one of the most consequential elections that we have and that's why I've tried to put forth specific policies and plans. Trying to get it off the personal and put it on what I want to do as president.
And that's why I hope people will check on that for themselves so they can see that yes, I've spent 30 years -- actually maybe a little more -- working to help kids and families, and I want to take all of that experience to the White House and do that every single day."
Donald Trump:
"I consider that statement about my children to be a very nice compliment. I don't know if it was meant to be a compliment but it is a great -- I'm very proud of my children. And they've done a wonderful job and they've been wonderful, wonderful kids. So I consider that a compliment
I will say this about Hillary: She doesn't quit. She doesn't give up. I respect that. I tell it like it is. She's a fighter. I disagree with much of what she's fighting for, I do disagree with her judgment in many cases, but she does fight hard and she doesn't quit and she doesn't give up and I consider that to be a very good trait."