奧巴馬：美國經濟還將惡化
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.
美國總統當選人巴拉克•奧巴馬於上週日稱，美國經濟尚未探底，在改善之前還會繼續惡化，他表示上任後將推出一套有效的經濟復甦計劃，並警告國會議員別再打聯邦經費的主意。
奧巴馬拒絕透露這項經濟刺激計劃的總投資額，並稱如果布什政府在明年1月20日結束任期前未採取有效行動，新政府還將承擔起救助住房抵押貸款者的任務。奧巴馬將在近六週後就任下屆總統。
他說：“現在首要的任務是爲病人‘輸血’以穩定其病情。也就是說短期內我們無法考慮赤字的問題，而必須保證經濟刺激方案達到一定規模，讓整個經濟先運轉起來。”
當天奧巴馬在接受NBC“媒體面對面”（Meet the Press）的電視採訪和之後在芝加哥的一個新聞發佈會上做出了以上表示。奧巴馬此次的NBC專訪是其贏得大選後一個多月來所接受的最深入的一次採訪。
儘管奧巴馬批評國內汽車業長期忽視改革，導致企業競爭力下降，但他表示，幫助幾大汽車生產商走出困境十分重要。
他說：“國會通過的向汽車業提供有條件的救援方案很有道理，這不僅能爲汽車業提供一些短期援助，還能給他們點壓力。”
除大政方針外，在被問及是否已戒菸，做好入住禁菸的白宮時，奧巴馬並沒有做出正面回答。
他說：“在目前狀況下，爲了健康，我已經非常努力了。不過我保證絕對不會違反白宮的規定。”
Vocabulary:
pork barrel:“豬肉桶”；原指議員向聯邦政府爲其所在選區爭取用於造橋修路、築水壩等的建設經費。不過有時議員爲了選票會與利益團體掛鉤，用申請聯邦經費“獎賞”那些在競選中給自己出過力的當地企業和羣體。“豬肉桶”現在專指國會議員“爲本州選民和利益集團的項目爭取聯邦經費”的現象，其中部分項目純粹是浪費公共資源。
head in the sand approach:迴避
hold someone's feet to the fire:to cause someone to feel pressure or stress（給某人造成壓力）
