奧巴馬發表新年賀詞力挺中產階級

With the New Year just around the corner, President Obama said there will be “difficult debates” and “tough fights” ahead but that he’s hopeful the American people will come together to grow the economy and strengthen the middle class.

“There’s no doubt that 2012 will bring even more change,” the president said in his weekly address from Hawaii, where he’s vacationing with his family. “As we head into the New Year, I’m hopeful that we have what it takes to face that change and come out even stronger – to grow our economy, create more jobs, and strengthen the middle class.”

Obama continued to describe the year to come as a “make-or-break” moment for the middle class, explaining “the actions we take in the months ahead will help determine what kind of country we want to be, and what kind of world we want our children and grandchildren to grow up in.”

The president said he’s optimistic about the upcoming year, in part because of the way lawmakers came together to extend the payroll tax cut and because the American public got involved. “It was good to see members of Congress do the right thing for millions of working Americans. But it was only possible because you added your voices to the debate,” he said as he enlisted Americans’ help in the challenges ahead. “You had the courage to believe that your voices could make a difference. And at the end of the day, they made all the difference.”

“I’m confident that if we work together, and if you keep reminding folks in Washington what’s at stake, then we will move this country forward and guarantee every American the opportunities they deserve,” Obama said as he wished Americans a “happy new year.”2012年即將到來之際，美國總統奧巴馬發表新年賀詞稱，新的一年將迎來“艱難的爭論”和“困難的鬥爭”，但他真心希望美國人民會團結一心發展經濟，並加強中產階級的力量。

奧巴馬在夏威夷與家人度假時發表每週演講說：“毫無疑問，2012年會帶來更多變革。在我們邁向新年時，我真心希望我們能夠應對這些變革，並且變得更加強大，發展經濟，創造就業，加強中產階級的力量。”

奧巴馬繼續將2012年描述爲對中產階級來說“成敗攸關”的一年，解釋說：“在未來幾個月裏我們的行動將決定美國成爲什麼樣的國家，以及我們希望子孫在怎樣的世界中成長。”

奧巴馬對來年表示樂觀，部分是因爲立法者們一起努力延長了工資稅的減免期限，而且美國公衆廣泛參與其中。他在爭取美國民衆在未來應對挑戰中的支持時說：“很高興能看到國會議員們爲千百萬工薪人員做些好事。但這是因爲有你們發表了自己的意見，這一切才成爲可能。你們有勇氣相信自己的聲音會帶來改變。在一天結束時，這些讓一切都發生了改變。你們有勇氣相信自己的聲音會帶來改變。在一天結束時，它們改變了一切。”

奧巴馬祝美國民衆“新年快樂”。他說：“我相信，只要我們團結一致，讓美國政府官員知道什麼纔是最重要的，我們就能讓國家繼續前進，並保證每個美國人都能得到應得的機會。”