◎ 魏國金
About two-thirds of Americans believe Republican former U.S. President George W. Bush is responsible for the nation’s struggling economy, with a smaller percentage blaming Democratic President Barack Obama, a Gallup poll showed.
約3分之2的美國人認為，共和黨籍前美國總統喬治．沃克．布希對國家困頓的經濟負有責任，怪罪民主黨籍總統歐巴馬的比例較小，據一項蓋洛普民調顯示。
About 68 percent of the more than 1,000 adults surveyed nationwide said Bush, who left office in January 2009, deserves a "moderate amount" or a "great deal" of the blame for the U.S. economic woes compared to 52 percent who pointed to his successor Obama, the poll found.
該民調發現，在全美接受調查的逾千名成人中，約68%表示，2009年1月卸任的布希，對於美國的經濟災難，應負擔起「適度」或「許多」責任，相較之下，52%認為應究責其繼任者歐巴馬。
Poll respondents who identified themselves as Republicans were split, with 49 percent saying Bush deserved a moderate amount or great deal of the blame while 51 percent said Bush deserved not much of the blame or none at all, the poll found.
該民調發現，視自己為共和黨人的民調受訪者見解分歧，49%表示布希應負適度或許多罪責，51%說布希承受的責任不多或完全無責。
Among Democrats, 90 percent blamed Bush for the weak economy and only 19 percent said Obama should carry much of the blame, according to the poll, conducted by telephone June 7 to 10.
在民主黨人中，90%將衰弱的經濟怪罪於布希，僅19%說歐巴馬應承擔重責，根據這份於6月7日至10日以電話進行的民調顯示。
Independent voters, who could play a critical role in the November election, were more likely to blame Bush（67 percent）than Obama（51 percent）.
可能在11月大選中扮演關鍵要角的獨立選民怪罪布希（67%）更甚於歐巴馬（51%）。
"Americans continue to place more blame for the nation’s economic problems on George W. Bush than on Barack Obama, even though Bush left office more than three years ago," Gallup said."... This suggests that Obama’s argument that he is on the right track and needs more time to turn the economy around could fall on receptive ears, particularly those of independents."（Reuters）
「儘管布希已在3年多前卸任，美國人仍持續將國家的經濟問題歸咎喬治．布希更甚於巴拉克．歐巴馬，」蓋洛普說。這顯示，歐巴馬自認方向正確，需要較多時間使經濟撥亂反正的論調可能獲得採納，特別是對獨立選民。（路透）
新聞辭典
to blame for︰該受責備的、應承擔責任的。例句︰The greed of
Wall Street is partially to blame for global economic crisis.（華爾街的貪婪應對全球經濟危機負有部分責任。）
be on the right track︰正確的、循著正確的路線。例句︰Our success in the opinion polls proves we’re on the right track.（我們在民調上的勝利證明我們是對的。）
fall on…ears︰獲得（某種態度的）聽取。例句︰The proposal fell on skeptical ears.（人們對該提議持懷疑態度。）