Weekly Address: It’s Time for the Senate To Do Its Job(April 30, 2016)

奧巴馬每周電視講話：總統呼吁參議院履行應盡義務

Hi, everybody. It's now been 45 days since I nominated Judge Merrick Garland to the Supreme Court. Judge Garland is a man of experience, integrity, and unimpeachable qualifications. Judge Garland is someone who Senate Republicans are on record saying is “a man of accomplishment and keen intellect;” a man who's “honest and capable;” a man whose “reputation is beyond reproach.” Those are all quotes from Republicans in the Senate.

大家好！自我提名梅里克·加蘭德出任最高法院大法官至今已經過去45天了。加蘭德法官經驗豐富、為人正直，出任這一職位對他而言實至名歸。參議院的一些共和黨人士稱加蘭德法官是“一位成就突出、才智出眾的人”、是“誠實而有能力的人”、是一位“聲譽無可指摘的人”。這些言論都來自于參議院的共和黨人之口。

But so far, most Senate Republicans have refused to even meet with Judge Garland. Which means they've also refused to do their job and hold a hearing on his nomination, or an up-or-down vote. But they've still found time to head home for recess over the next week.

但時至今日，大部分的共和黨參議員依然拒絕與加蘭德法官會面。這也意味著他們依然不想承擔他們的職責，召開關于他的提名的聽證會或進行一場表決投票。但再過一周他們就會忙著回家度假了。

This is an abdication of the Senate's responsibility. Every Supreme Court nominee since 1875 who hasn't withdrawn from the process has received a hearing or a vote. For over 40 years, there's been an average of 67 days between a nomination and a hearing. This time should be no different. This is not about partisan politics–it's about upholding the institutions that make our democracy work.

這是對參議院職責的褻瀆。自1875年以來，任何一位最高法院大法官的提名都沒有在聽證會或投票階段被撤回。過去的40多年里，從提名到聽證會的平均時間間隔是67天。這一次也不應該出現例外。這不是兩黨政治斗爭的問題，而是堅持讓我們的民主體系正常運轉的問題。

There's a reason Judge Garland has earned the respect of people from both political parties. As a young lawyer, he left a lucrative private firm to work in public service. He went to oversee the federal response to the Oklahoma City bombing. For the last 19 years, Judge Garland has served on the D.C. Circuit Court–often called “the Second Highest Court in the Land”–and for the past three years, he's served as that court's Chief Judge. In fact, Judge Merrick Garland has more federal judicial experience than any other Supreme Court nominee in history. With a brilliant mind, a kind spirit, and a good heart, he has dedicated his life to protecting our rights, and ensuring that the voices of everyday Americans are heard.

加蘭德法官能夠贏得兩黨的共同尊敬是有原因的。作為一名年輕律師，他離開了待遇優厚的私人律所，來到公共部門服務。他曾前往俄克拉荷馬市爆炸案現場視察聯邦應急處置情況。過去19年里，加蘭德法官一直在華盛頓特區巡回法院供職，這一法院通常被稱為“全國第二高等法院”，過去的3年里，他還是該法院的首席大法官。實際上，梅里克·加蘭德法官擁有比歷史上其他最高法院大法官提名人選更多的聯邦司法經歷。他頭腦睿智、善良仁義，他把一生都奉獻給保護人民權利的事業，確保每一位美國人都可以表達自己的意見。

So there is absolutely no reason for Republican Senators to deny him the basic courtesy of a hearing and a vote–the same courtesy that has been extended to others. This refusal to treat a Supreme Court nomination with the seriousness it deserves is what makes people so cynical about Washington. That's why poll after poll shows a majority of Americans think Senate Republicans should do their job; give Judge Garland a hearing; and give Judge Garland a vote.

因此，共和黨參議員們完全沒有理由拒絕為他舉行聽證會和投票，因為他們為其他人都做到了這一點。這種拒絕嚴肅對待最高法院大法官提名人選的做法，會讓人們對華盛頓嗤之以鼻。正因如此，一輪又一輪的民意測驗說明，大部分美國人都認為共和黨參議員應該做好自己的工作，給加蘭德法官一次聽證和投票表決的機會。

For all of our political differences, Americans understand that what unites us is far greater than what divides us. And in the middle of a volatile political season, it is more important than ever that we fulfill our duties–in good faith–as public servants. The Supreme Court must remain above partisan politics. I've done my job–I nominated someone as qualified as Merrick Garland. Now it's time for the Senate to do their job. Give Judge Garland a hearing. Give Judge Garland an up-or-down vote. Treat him–and our democracy–with the respect they deserve.

對于我們在政治上的分歧，美國人民都很清楚，讓我們團結在一起的因素比讓我們分裂的因素要強大的多。在總統競選白熱化的時期，我們作為公職人員，真心實意地履行我們的職責就顯得尤為重要。最高法院的提名人選事宜理應超越黨派政治之爭。我已經完成了我的工作，我提名梅里克·加蘭德這位有資格出任這一職位的人選。現在，輪到參議院做好他們的工作了。請給加蘭德法官一次聽證、投票的機會。以尊重的心態對待他，以敬畏的心對待我們的民主制度。

Thanks for listening, and have a great weekend.

謝謝收聽，祝大家周末愉快！

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