奥巴马国情咨文演讲稿（中英文）(7)

That\'s what I came to Washington to do.  That\'s why -– for the first time in history –- my administration posts on our White House visitors online.  That\'s why we\'ve excluded lobbyists from policymaking jobs, or seats on federal boards and commissions.

But we can\'t stop there.  It\'s time to require lobbyists to disclose each contact they make on behalf of a client with my administration or with Congress.  It\'s time to put strict limits on the contributions that lobbyists give to candidates for federal office.

With all due deference to separation of powers, last week the Supreme Court reversed a century of law that I believe will open the floodgates for special interests –- including foreign corporations –- to spend without limit in our elections.  (Applause.)  I don\'t think American elections should be bankrolled by America\'s most powerful interests, or worse, by foreign entities.  (Applause.)  They should be decided by the American people.  And I\'d urge Democrats and Republicans to pass a bill that helps to correct some of these problems.

I\'m also calling on Congress to continue down the path of earmark reform.  Applause.)  Democrats and Republicans.  (Applause.)  Democrats and Republicans.  You\'ve trimmed some of this spending, you\'ve embraced some meaningful change.  But restoring the public trust demands more.  For example, some members of Congress post some earmark requests online.  (Applause.)  Tonight, I\'m calling on Congress to publish all earmark requests on a single Web site before there\'s a vote, so that the American people can see how their money is being spent. (Applause.)

Of course, none of these reforms will even happen if we don\'t also reform how we work with one another.  Now, I\'m not naïve.  I never thought that the mere fact of my election would usher in peace and harmony -- (laughter) -- and some post-partisan era.  I knew that both parties have fed divisions that are deeply entrenched.  And on some issues, there are simply philosophical differences that will always cause us to part ways. These disagreements, about the role of government in our lives, about our national priorities and our national security, they\'ve been taking place for over 200 years.  They\'re the very essence of our democracy.

But what frustrates the American people is a Washington where every day is Election Day.  We can\'t wage a perpetual campaign where the only goal is to see who can get the most embarrassing headlines about the other side -– a belief that if you lose, I win.  Neither party should delay or obstruct every single bill just because they can.  The confirmation of -- (applause) -- I\'m speaking to both parties now.  The confirmation of well-qualified public servants shouldn\'t be held hostage to the pet projects or grudges of a few individual senators.  (Applause.)

Washington may think that saying anything about the other side, no matter how false, no matter how malicious, is just part of the game.  But it\'s precisely such politics that has stopped either party from helping the American people.  Worse yet, it\'s sowing further division among our citizens, further distrust in our government.

So, no, I will not give up on trying to change the tone of our politics.  I know it\'s an election year.  And after last week, it\'s clear that campaign fever has come even earlier than usual.  But we still need to govern.

To Democrats, I would remind you that we still have the largest majority in decades, and the people expect us to solve problems, not run for the hills.  (Applause.)  And if the Republican leadership is going to insist that 60 votes in the Senate are required to do any business at all in this town -- a supermajority -- then the responsibility to govern is now yours as well.  (Applause.)  Just saying no to everything may be good short-term politics, but it\'s not leadership.  We were sent here to serve our citizens, not our ambitions.  (Applause.)  So let\'s show the American people that we can do it together.  (Applause.)

This week, I\'ll be addressing a meeting of the House Republicans.  I\'d like to begin monthly meetings with both Democratic and Republican leadership.  I know you can\'t wait.  (Laughter.)

Throughout our history, no issue has united this country more than our security.  Sadly, some of the unity we felt after 9/11 has dissipated.  We can argue all we want about who\'s to blame for this, but I\'m not interested in re-litigating the past. I know that all of us love this country.  All of us are committed to its defense.  So let\'s put aside the schoolyard taunts about who\'s tough.  Let\'s reject the false choice between protecting our people and upholding our values.  Let\'s leave behind the fear and division, and do what it takes to defend our nation and forge a more hopeful future -- for America and for the world.  (Applause.)