奥巴马：美国经济还将恶化
Obama: Economy to get worse before it improves
President-elect Barack Obama said Sunday the economy will get worse before it gets better, pledged a recovery plan "equal to the task" and warned lawmakers that the days of pork barrel spending are over.
Less than six weeks before his inauguration, Obama declined to say how large an economic stimulus plan he envisions. He said his blueprint for recovery will include help for homeowners facing foreclosure on their mortgages if President George W. Bush has not acted by Inauguration Day, Jan. 20.
"We've got to provide a blood infusion to the patient right now to make sure that the patient is stabilized. And that means that we can't worry short term about the deficit. We've got to make sure that the economic stimulus plan is large enough to get the economy moving," he said.
Obama made his comments on NBC's "Meet the Press," in his most extensive interview since winning the White House more than a month ago, and later at a news conference in Chicago.
The president-elect said it is important that domestic carmakers survive the current crisis, although he accused the industry's executives of taking a "head in the sand approach" that has prevented their companies from becoming more competitive.
"Congress is doing the exact right thing by asking for a conditions-based assistance package that holds the industry's feet to the fire and gives the industry some short-term assistance," he said.
In addition to the policy issues, Obama avoided a direct answer when asked whether he has quit cigarettes as he prepares to move into a no-smoking White House.
"I have done a terrific job, under the circumstances, of making myself much healthier. And I think that you will not see any violations of these rules in the White House," he said.
美国总统当选人巴拉克•奥巴马于上周日称，美国经济尚未探底，在改善之前还会继续恶化，他表示上任后将推出一套有效的经济复苏计划，并警告国会议员别再打联邦经费的主意。
奥巴马拒绝透露这项经济刺激计划的总投资额，并称如果布什政府在明年1月20日结束任期前未采取有效行动，新政府还将承担起救助住房抵押贷款者的任务。奥巴马将在近六周后就任下届总统。
他说：“现在首要的任务是为病人‘输血’以稳定其病情。也就是说短期内我们无法考虑赤字的问题，而必须保证经济刺激方案达到一定规模，让整个经济先运转起来。”
当天奥巴马在接受NBC“媒体面对面”（Meet the Press）的电视采访和之后在芝加哥的一个新闻发布会上做出了以上表示。奥巴马此次的NBC专访是其赢得大选后一个多月来所接受的最深入的一次采访。
尽管奥巴马批评国内汽车业长期忽视改革，导致企业竞争力下降，但他表示，帮助几大汽车生产商走出困境十分重要。
他说：“国会通过的向汽车业提供有条件的救援方案很有道理，这不仅能为汽车业提供一些短期援助，还能给他们点压力。”
除大政方针外，在被问及是否已戒烟，做好入住禁烟的白宫时，奥巴马并没有做出正面回答。
他说：“在目前状况下，为了健康，我已经非常努力了。不过我保证绝对不会违反白宫的规定。”
Vocabulary:
pork barrel:“猪肉桶”；原指议员向联邦政府为其所在选区争取用于造桥修路、筑水坝等的建设经费。不过有时议员为了选票会与利益团体挂钩，用申请联邦经费“奖赏”那些在竞选中给自己出过力的当地企业和群体。“猪肉桶”现在专指国会议员“为本州选民和利益集团的项目争取联邦经费”的现象，其中部分项目纯粹是浪费公共资源。
head in the sand approach:回避
hold someone's feet to the fire:to cause someone to feel pressure or stress（给某人造成压力）
