Former President George HW Bush Endorses McCain for Republican Presidential Nomination
美国前总统布什宣布支持麦凯恩

In Houston, former President George H.W. Bush, the father of the current president, stood beside Senator John McCain to offer his endorsement for the Republican presidential nomination.

在美国休斯敦市，美国现任总统布什的父亲、前总统布什站在参议员麦凯恩身边，宣布支持麦凯恩成为共和党的总统候选人。

Senator McCain and the former president came together in a hangar at Houston's Hobby airport and stood side by side with their wives as the 41st president offered his endorsement.

参议员麦凯恩和前总统布什以及他们的妻子，肩并肩地出现在休斯敦机场的一个飞机库。第41任总统布什宣布，他支持麦凯恩成为共和党的总统候选人。

"In the coming election we do not have the luxury of taking a pass on our unique role and responsibilities in the world and the indisputable fact that unites the greatest number of Republicans," Mr. Bush said, "the most independents and many good Democrats as well is that no one is better prepared to lead our nation in these trying times than Senator John McCain."

前总统布什说：“在总统大选即将到来之际，我们不能辜负了我们在世界上扮演的特殊角色和承担的各种责任，我们也不能忽视一个无庸置疑的事实，那就是说是我们要团结大多数共和党人、独立人士以及许多优秀的民主党人，而在考验时期中，没有任何一个人比参议员麦凯恩能够更好地领导我们的国家。”

Senator McCain made note of the fact that he and President Bush had two things in common, both had been naval aviators and both had been shot down. Bush was shot down in the Pacific during World War II and rescued from the water shortly afterwards. McCain was shot down over North Vietnam and was held as a prisoner of war under brutal conditions.

参议员麦凯恩指出，他和前总统布什有两个共同点。两人都当过美国海军飞行员，而且两人都在战场上受过伤。前总统布什曾在第二次世界大战中在太平洋上被枪击中，后来不久被人从水中救起。麦凯恩在越南北部被击中，成为战俘，并忍受残酷恶劣的战俘生活条件。

At the meeting in Houston, McCain thanked the former president for his support and spoke of the need to bring the Republican Party together.

麦凯恩在休斯敦的会议上感谢前总统布什的支持，他还指出，有必要把共和党人团结起来。

"I believe that his endorsement and sign of support honors me and I also think it is very helpful in continuing our effort to unite our party," he said.

麦凯恩说：“我认为前总统布什对我的支持是我的荣幸，我还认为这有助于我们继续努力实现整个共和党的团结。”

McCain faces a deep divide among Republicans. Many conservatives see him as a liberal who has too often compromised with Democrats in order to move legislation through Congress.

麦凯恩正面临着与其他共和党人的重大分歧。由于他过于频繁地与民主党妥协，以便在国会推动议案的进展，许多保守派人士把他当作一个自由派人士。

One of McCain's biggest problems with conservative Republican voters came two years ago when he co-sponsored an immigration reform bill that they said amounted to an amnesty for 12 million foreigners who had entered the United States illegally. McCain says he now believes the border must be made secure before any other program can be implemented, but he still backs a guest worker program and a path to citizenship for immigrants already here who do not have a criminal record.

Former President Bush addressed conservatives in making his endorsement of McCain, saying that the senator's credentials as a conservative are solid.

前总统布什向共和党人发表讲话，宣布支持麦凯恩，并表示麦凯恩是一个可靠合格的保守派人士。

"If you have been around the track, you hear these criticisms and I think they are grossly unfair," the former president said. "He has got a record that everyone can analyze in the Senate, a sound, conservative record, and yet he is not above reaching out to the other side."

前总统布什说：“如果你一直追踪竞选形势的话，你可能会听到对麦凯恩的一些批评，我认为这些批评是非常不公平的。麦凯恩拥有一个地道的保守派的履历，参议院里的任何人都可以把这份履历拿去分析研究。不过，他并不是不屑于跟民主党人进行妥协。”

Senator McCain's only remaining viable opponent in the race for the Republican nomination is former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee, who is campaigning in the Midwestern state of Wisconsin before its primary Tuesday. Huckabee told reporters there he intends to stay in the race despite the momentum that Senator McCain has developed and the backing he has received from party leaders.

目前，参议员麦凯恩在共和党总统候选人提名之争中的唯一对手是前阿肯色州州长哈克比。哈克比正在美国中西部的威斯康辛州展开竞选活动，威斯康辛州将在星期二举行初选。哈克比在威斯康辛州对记者说，虽然参议员麦凯恩目前声势很大，并得到了共和党领袖们的支持，但是他打算继续竞选。