奥巴马每周英语演讲

第一篇：奥巴马每周英语演讲

Remarks of President Barack Obama Weekly Address The White House September 12, 2009 On Wednesday, I addressed a joint session of Congress and the American people about why we need health insurance reform and what it will take to do it.Since then, I’ve continued to hear from many Americans across the country about why this is so urgent and important.I’ve heard from Americans who can’t get health coverage;men and women who worry that one accident or illness could drive them into bankruptcy.And I’ve heard from Americans with insurance who thought that “the uninsured” always referred to someone else – but between skyrocketing costs and insurance company practices;they’re beginning to worry that they could find themselves uninsured too.It’s an anxiety that’s keeping more and more Americans awake at night.Over the last twelve months, nearly six million more Americans lost their health coverage – that’s 17,000 men and women every single day.We’re not just talking about Americans in poverty, either – we’re talking about middle-class Americans.In other words, it can happen to anyone.And based on a brand-new report from the Treasury Department, we can expect that about half of all Americans under 65 will lose their health coverage at some point over the next ten years.If you’re under the age of 21 today, chances are more than half that you’ll find yourself uninsured at some point in that time.And more than one-third of Americans will go without coverage for longer than one year.I refuse to allow that future to happen.In the United States of America, no one should have to worry that they’ll go without health insurance – not for one year, not for one month, not for one day.And once I sign my health reform plan into law – they won’t.My plan will provide more security and stability to those who have health insurance;offer quality, affordable choices to those who currently don’t;and bring health care costs for our families, our businesses, and our government under control.First of all, if you are among the hundreds of millions of Americans who already have insurance through your job, or Medicare, or Medicaid, or the VA, nothing in my plan will require you or your employer to change the coverage or the doctor you have.What my plan will do is make the insurance you have worked better for you.We’ll make it illegal for insurance companies to deny you coverage because of a pre-existing condition, drop your coverage when you get sick, or water it down when you need it most.They’ll no longer be able to place some arbitrary cap on the amount of coverage you can receive in a given year or over a lifetime, and we will place a limit on how much you can be charged for out-of-pocket expenses – because no one should go broke just because they get sick.Second, if you’re one of the more than thirty million American citizens who can’t get coverage, you’ll finally have quality, affordable choices.If you lose your job, change your job, or start your own business, you will be able to get coverage.And as I have said over and over again, I will not sign a plan that adds one dime to our deficits – period.This plan will be paid for.The middle-class will realize greater security, not higher taxes.And if we can successfully slow the growth of health care costs by just one-tenth of one percent each year, it will actually reduce the deficit by $4 trillion over the long term.Affordable, quality care within reach for the tens of millions of Americans who don’t have it today.Stability and security for the hundreds of millions who do.That’s the reform we seek.We have had a long and important debate.But now is the time for action.Because every day we wait, more Americans will lose their health care, their businesses, and their homes – but also the dreams they’ve worked for and the peace of mind they deserve.They are why we have to succeed.So if you’re willing to put country before party and the interests of our children above our own;if you refuse to settle for a politics where scoring points is more important than solving problems;and if you believe, as I do, that America can still come together to do great things – then join us.Give us your help.And we will finally get health insurance reform done this year.

第二篇：奥巴马每周演讲稿

2010-06-26

This weekend, I’m traveling to Toronto to meet with members of the G20.There, I hope we can build on the progress we made at last year’s G20 summits by coordinating our global financial reform efforts to make sure a crisis like the one from which we are still recovering never happens again.We’ve made great progress toward passing such reform here at home.As I speak, we are on the cusp of enacting the toughest financial reforms since the Great Depression.I don’t have to tell you why these reforms are so important.We’re still digging ourselves out of an economic crisis that happened largely because there wasn’t strong enough oversight on Wall Street.We can’t build a strong economy in America over the long-run without ending this status quo, and laying a new foundation for growth and prosperity.That’s what the Wall Street reforms currently making their way through Congress will help us do – reforms that represent 90% of what I proposed when I took up this fight.We’ll put in place the strongest consumer financial protections in American history, and create an independent agency with an independent director and an independent budget to enforce them.Credit card companies will no longer be able to mislead you with pages and pages of fine print.You will no longer be subject to all kinds of hidden fees and penalties, or the predatory practices of unscrupulous lenders.Instead, we’ll make sure credit card companies and mortgage companies play by the rules.And you’ll be empowered with easy-to-understand forms, and the clear and concise information you need to make the financial decisions that are best for you and your family.Wall Street reform will also strengthen our economy in a number of other ways.We’ll make our financial system more transparent by bringing the kinds of complex trades that helped trigger this crisis – trades in a $600 trillion derivatives market – finally into the light of day.We’ll enact what’s called the Volcker Rule to make sure banks protected by a safety net like the FDIC can’t engage in risky trades for their own profit.We’ll create what’s called a resolution authority to help wind down firms whose collapse would threaten our entire financial system.Put simply, we’ll end the days of taxpayer-funded bailouts, and help make sure Main Street is never again held responsible for Wall Street’s mistakes.Beyond these reforms, we also need to address another piece of unfinished business.We need to impose a fee on the banks that were the biggest beneficiaries of taxpayer assistance at the height of our financial crisis – so we can recover every dime of taxpayer money.Getting this far on Wall Street reform hasn’t been easy.There are those who’ve fought tooth and nail to preserve the status quo.In recent months, they’ve spent millions of dollars and hired an army of lobbyists to stop reform dead in its tracks.But because we refused to back down, and kept fighting, we now stand on the verge of victory.And I urge Congress to take us over the finish line, and send me a reform bill I can sign into law, so we can empower our people with consumer protections, and help prevent a financial crisis like this from ever happening again.

第三篇：奥巴马每周演讲稿

2010-07-03

This week, I spent some time in Racine, Wisconsin, talking with folks who are doing their best to cope with the aftermath of a brutal recession.And while I was there, a young woman asked me a question I hear all the time: “What are we doing as a nation to bring jobs back to this country?”

Well, on Friday, we learned that after 22 straight months of job loss, our economy has now created jobs in the private sector for 6 months in a row.That’s a positive sign.But the truth is, the recession from which we’re emerging has left us in a hole that’s about 8 million jobs deep.And as I’ve said from the day I took office, it’s going to take months, even years, to dig our way out – and it’s going to require an all-hands-on-deck effort.In the short term, we’re fighting to speed up this recovery and keep the economy growing by all means possible.That means extending unemployment insurance for workers who lost their job.That means getting small businesses the loans they need to keep their doors open and hire new workers.And that means sending relief to states so they don’t have to lay off thousands of teachers and firefighters and police officers.Still, at a time when millions of Americans feel a deep sense of urgency in their own lives, Republican leaders in Washington just don’t get it.While a majority of Senators support taking these steps to help the American people, some are playing the same old Washington games and using their power to hold this relief hostage – a move that only ends up holding back our recovery.It doesn’t make sense.But I promised those folks in Wisconsin – and I promise all of you – that we won’t back down.We’re going to keep fighting to advance our recovery.And we’re going to keep competing aggressively to make sure the jobs and industries of the future are taking root right here in America.That’s one of the reasons why we’re accelerating the transition to a clean energy economy and doubling our use of renewable energy sources like wind and solar power – steps that have the potential to create whole new industries and hundreds of thousands of new jobs in America.In fact, today, I’m announcing that the Department of Energy is awarding nearly $2 billion in conditional commitments to two solar companies.The first is Abengoa Solar, a company that has agreed to build one of the largest solar plants in the world right here in the United States.After years of watching companies build things and create jobs overseas, it’s good news that we’ve attracted a company to our shores to build a plant and create jobs right here in America.In the short term, construction will create approximately 1,600 jobs in Arizona.What’s more, over 70 percent of the components and products used in construction will be manufactured in the USA, boosting jobs and communities in states up and down the supply chain.Once completed, this plant will be the first large-scale solar plant in the U.S.to actually store the energy it generates for later use – even at night.And it will generate enough clean, renewable energy to power 70,000 homes.The second company is Abound Solar Manufacturing, which will manufacture advanced solar panels at two new plants, creating more than 2,000 construction jobs and 1,500 permanent jobs.A Colorado plant is already underway, and an Indiana plant will be built in what’s now an empty Chrysler factory.When fully operational, these plants will produce millions of state-of-the-art solar panels each year.These are just two of the many clean energy investments in the Recovery Act.Already, I’ve seen the payoff from these investments.I’ve seen once-shuttered factories humming with new workers who are building solar panels and wind turbines;rolling up their sleeves to help America win the race for the clean energy economy.So that’s some of what we’re doing.But the truth is, steps like these won’t replace all the jobs we’ve lost overnight.I know folks are struggling.I know this Fourth of July weekend finds many Americans wishing things were a bit easier right now.I do too.But what this weekend reminds us, more than any other, is that we are a nation that has always risen to the challenges before it.We are a nation that, 234 years ago, declared our independence from one of the greatest empires the world had ever known.We are a nation that mustered a sense of common purpose to overcome Depression and fear itself.We are a nation that embraced a call to greatness and saved the world from tyranny.That is who we are – a nation that turns times of trial into times of triumph – and I know America will write our own destiny once more.I wish every American a safe and happy Fourth of July.And to all our troops serving in harm’s way, I want you to know you have the support of a grateful nation and a proud Commander-in-Chief.Thank you, God Bless You, and God Bless the United States of America.

第四篇：奥巴马上海英语演讲

PRESIDENT OBAMA : Good afternoon.It is a great honor for me to be here in Shanghai, and to have this opportunity to speak with all of you.I'd like to thank Fudan University's President Yang for his hospitality and his gracious welcome.I'd also like to thank our outstanding Ambassador, Jon Huntsman, who exemplifies the deep ties and respect between our nations.I don't know what he said, but I hope it was good.(Laughter.)Part 1

What I'd like to do is to make some opening comments, and then what I'm really looking forward to doing is taking questions, not only from students who are in the audience, but also we've received questions online, which will be asked by some of the students who are here in the audience, as well as by Ambassador Huntsman.And I am very sorry that my Chinese is not as good as your English, but I am looking forward to this chance to have a dialogue.This is my first time traveling to China, and I'm excited to see this majestic country.Here, in Shanghai, we see the growth that has caught the attention of the world--the soaring skyscrapers, the bustling streets and entrepreneurial activity.And just as I'm impressed by these signs of China's journey to the 21st century, I'm eager to see those ancient places that speak to us from China's distant past.Tomorrow and the next day I hope to have a chance when I'm in Beijing to see the majesty of the Forbidden City and the wonder of the Great Wall.Truly, this is a nation that encompasses both a rich history and a belief in the promise of the future.The same can be said of the relationship between our two countries.Shanghai, of course, is a city that has great meaning in the history of the relationship between the United States and China.It was here, 37 years ago, that the Shanghai Communique opened the door to a new chapter of engagement between our governments and among our people.However, America's ties to this city--and to this country--stretch back further, to the earliest days of America's independence.Part 2

In 1784, our founding father, George Washington, commissioned the Empress of China, a ship that set sail for these shores so that it could pursue trade with the Qing Dynasty.Washington wanted to see the ship carry the flag around the globe, and to forge new ties with nations like China.This is a common American impulse--the desire to reach for new horizons, and to forge new partnerships that are mutually beneficial.Over the two centuries that have followed, the currents of history have steered the relationship between our countries in many directions.And even in the midst of tumultuous winds, our people had opportunities to forge deep and even dramatic ties.For instance, Americans will never forget the hospitality shown to our pilots who were shot down over your soil during World War II, and cared for by Chinese civilians who risked all that they had by doing so.And Chinese veterans of that war still warmly greet those American veterans who return to the sites where they fought to help liberate China from occupation.A different kind of connection was made nearly 40 years ago when the frost between our countries began to thaw through the simple game of table tennis.The very unlikely nature of this engagement contributed to its success--because for all our differences, both our common humanity and our shared curiosity were revealed.As one American player described his visit to China--“[The]people are just like us…The country is very similar to America, but still very different.” Of course this small opening was followed by the achievement of the Shanghai Communique, and the eventual establishment of formal relations between the United States and China in 1979.And in three decades, just look at how far we have come.Part 3

In 1979, trade between the United States and China stood at roughly $5 billion--today it tops over $400 billion each year.The commerce affects our people's lives in so many ways.America imports from China many of the computer parts we use, the clothes we wear;and we export to China machinery that helps power your industry.This trade could create even more jobs on both sides of the Pacific, while allowing our people to enjoy a better quality of life.And as demand becomes more balanced, it can lead to even broader prosperity.In 1979, the political cooperation between the United States and China was rooted largely in our shared rivalry with the Soviet Union.Today, we have a positive, constructive and comprehensive relationship that opens the door to partnership on the key global issues of our time--economic recovery and the development of clean energy;stopping the spread of nuclear weapons and the scourge of climate change;the promotion of peace and security in Asia and around the globe.All of these issues will be on the agenda tomorrow when I meet with President Hu.And in 1979, the connections among our people were limited.Today, we see the curiosity of those ping-pong players manifested in the ties that are being forged across many sectors.The second highest number of foreign students in the United States come from China, and we've seen a 50 percent increase in the study of Chinese among our own students.There are nearly 200 “friendship cities” drawing our communities together.American and Chinese scientists cooperate on new research and discovery.And of course, Yao Ming is just one signal of our shared love of basketball--I'm only sorry that I won't be able to see a Shanghai Sharks game while I'm visiting.It is no coincidence that the relationship between our countries has accompanied a period of positive change.China has lifted hundreds of millions of people out of poverty--an accomplishment unparalleled in human history--while playing a larger role in global events.And the United States has seen our economy grow along with the standard of living enjoyed by our people, while bringing the Cold War to a successful conclusion.Part 4

There is a Chinese proverb: “Consider the past, and you shall know the future.” Surely, we have known setbacks and challenges over the last 30 years.Our relationship has not been without disagreement and difficulty.But the notion that we must be adversaries is not predestined--not when we consider the past.Indeed, because of our cooperation, both the United States and China are more prosperous and more secure.We have seen what is possible when we build upon our mutual interests, and engage on the basis of mutual respect.And yet the success of that engagement depends upon understanding--on sustaining an open dialogue, and learning about one another and from one another.For just as that American table tennis player pointed out--we share much in common as human beings, but our countries are different in certain ways.I believe that each country must chart its own course.China is an ancient nation, with a deeply rooted culture.The United States, by comparison, is a young nation, whose culture is determined by the many different immigrants who have come to our shores, and by the founding documents that guide our democracy.Those documents put forward a simple vision of human affairs, and they enshrine several core principles--that all men and women are created equal, and possess certain fundamental rights;that government should reflect the will of the people and respond to their wishes;that commerce should be open, information freely accessible;and that laws, and not simply men, should guarantee the administration of justice.Of course, the story of our nation is not without its difficult chapters.In many ways--over many years--we have struggled to advance the promise of these principles to all of our people, and to forge a more perfect union.We fought a very painful civil war, and freed a portion of our population from slavery.It took time for women to be extended the right to vote, workers to win the right to organize, and for immigrants from different corners of the globe to be fully embraced.Even after they were freed, African Americans persevered through conditions that were separate and not equal, before winning full and equal rights.None of this was easy.But we made progress because of our belief in those core principles, which have served as our compass through the darkest of storms.That is why Lincoln could stand up in the midst of civil war and declare it a struggle to see whether any nation, conceived in liberty, and “dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal” could long endure.That is why Dr.Martin Luther King could stand on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial and ask that our nation live out the true meaning of its creed.That's why immigrants from China to Kenya could find a home on our shores;why opportunity is available to all who would work for it;and why someone like me, who less than 50 years ago would have had trouble voting in some parts of America, is now able to serve as its President.Part 5

And that is why America will always speak out for these core principles around the world.We do not seek to impose any system of government on any other nation, but we also don't believe that the principles that we stand for are unique to our nation.These freedoms of expression and worship--of access to information and political participation--we believe are universal rights.They should be available to all people, including ethnic and religious minorities--whether they are in the United States, China, or any nation.Indeed, it is that respect for universal rights that guides America's openness to other countries;our respect for different cultures;our commitment to international law;and our faith in the future.These are all things that you should know about America.I also know that we have much to learn about China.Looking around at this magnificent city--and looking around this room--I do believe that our nations hold something important in common, and that is a belief in the future.Neither the United States nor China is content to rest on our achievements.For while China is an ancient nation, you are also clearly looking ahead with confidence, ambition, and a commitment to see that tomorrow's generation can do better than today's.In addition to your growing economy, we admire China's extraordinary commitment to science and research--a commitment borne out in everything from the infrastructure you build to the technology you use.China is now the world's largest Internet user--which is why we were so pleased to include the Internet as a part of today's event.This country now has the world's largest mobile phone network, and it is investing in the new forms of energy that can both sustain growth and combat climate change--and I'm looking forward to deepening the partnership between the United States and China in this critical area tomorrow.But above all, I see China's future in you--young people whose talent and dedication and dreams will do so much to help shape the 21st century.I've said many times that I believe that our world is now fundamentally interconnected.The jobs we do, the prosperity we build, the environment we protect, the security that we seek--all of these things are shared.And given that interconnection, power in the 21st century is no longer a zero-sum game;one country's success need not come at the expense of another.And that is why the United States insists we do not seek to contain China's rise.On the contrary, we welcome China as a strong and prosperous and successful member of the community of nations--a China that draws on the rights, strengths, and creativity of individual Chinese like you.Part 6

To return to the proverb--consider the past.We know that more is to be gained when great powers cooperate than when they collide.That is a lesson that human beings have learned time and again, and that is the example of the history between our nations.And I believe strongly that cooperation must go beyond our government.It must be rooted in our people--in the studies we share, the business that we do, the knowledge that we gain, and even in the sports that we play.And these bridges must be built by young men and women just like you and your counterparts in America.That's why I'm pleased to announce that the United States will dramatically expand the number of our students who study in China to 100,000.And these exchanges mark a clear commitment to build ties among our people, as surely as you will help determine the destiny of the 21st century.And I'm absolutely confident that America has no better ambassadors to offer than our young people.For they, just like you, are filled with talent and energy and optimism about the history that is yet to be written.So let this be the next step in the steady pursuit of cooperation that will serve our nations, and the world.And if there's one thing that we can take from today's dialogue, I hope that it is a commitment to continue this dialogue going forward.So thank you very much.And I look forward now to taking some questions from all of you.Thank you very much.(Applause.)

第五篇：奥巴马每周演讲稿 (8)

2010-08-14

Seventy-five years ago today, in the midst of the Great Depression, Franklin Roosevelt signed Social Security into law, laying a cornerstone in the foundation of America’s middle class, and assuring generations of America’s seniors that after a lifetime of hard work, they’d have a chance to retire with dignity.We have an obligation to keep that promise;to safeguard Social Security for our seniors, people with disabilities, and all Americans – today, tomorrow, and forever.Now, we’ve been talking for a long time about how to do that;about how to make sure Social Security is healthy enough to cover the higher costs that are kicking in now that baby boomers are retiring.And I’m committed to working with anyone, Democrat or Republican, who wants to strengthen Social Security.I’m also encouraged by the reports of serious bipartisan work being done on this and other issues in the fiscal commission that I set up several months ago.One thing we can’t afford to do though is privatize Social Security – an ill-conceived idea that would add trillions of dollars to our budget deficit while tying your benefits to the whims of Wall Street traders and the ups and downs of the stock market.A few years ago, we had a debate about privatizing Social Security.And I’d have thought that debate would’ve been put to rest once and for all by the financial crisis we’ve just experienced.I’d have thought, after being reminded how quickly the stock market can tumble, after seeing the wealth people worked a lifetime to earn wiped out in a matter of days, that no one would want to place bets with Social Security on Wall Street;that everyone would understand why we need to be prudent about investing the retirement money of tens of millions of Americans.But some Republican leaders in Congress don’t seem to have learned any lessons from the past few years.They’re pushing to make privatizing Social Security a key part of their legislative agenda if they win a majority in Congress this fall.It’s right up there on their to-do list with repealing some of the Medicare benefits and reforms that are adding at least a dozen years to the fiscal health of Medicare – the single longest extension in history.That agenda is wrong for seniors, it’s wrong for America, and I won’t let it happen.Not while I’m President.I’ll fight with everything I’ve got to stop those who would gamble your Social Security on Wall Street.Because you shouldn’t be worried that a sudden downturn in the stock market will put all you’ve worked so hard for – all you’ve earned – at risk.You should have the peace of mind of knowing that after meeting your responsibilities and paying into the system all your lives, you’ll get the benefits you deserve.Seventy-five years ago today, Franklin Roosevelt made a promise.He promised that from that day forward, we’d offer – quote – “some measure of protection to the average citizen and to his family against&hellippoverty-stricken old age.” That’s a promise each generation of Americans has kept.And it’s a promise America will continue to keep so long as I have the honor of serving as President.Thanks for listening.Thanks for watching.And have wonderful weekend.