‘He Did Not Hesitate To Answer Reporters’ Questions’

Published in Dong A Ilbo
(South Korea) on 29 November 2021
by Jung Mi-kyung (link to originallink to original)
Translated from by Nicole Lee. Edited by Gillian Palmer.
Despite President Joe Biden announcing he will be running for reelection, his approval ratings are unsatisfactory. His supporters are starting to turn their backs on him because of various issues that have arisen in the less than one year since he took office, such as economic issues and the inadequate response to COVID-19.

'He's Not What He Once Was'

There is much concern about Biden’s health, especially his mental health. Biden's appearances on TV these days seem to lack energy and there is an especially big difference compared to his heyday, when he dominated U.S. politics. In every speech, he has shown slips in memory loss and made frequent mistakes in speech. One political analyst put it this way: “He’s missing a beat. He’s not what he once was.”* “Miss a beat” refers to hesitation when you need to push ahead.

'If You Aren't Going To Help, at Least Get Out of the Way'

The Biden administration’s policy concerning mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations has faced opposition. Recently, Republican politicians collectively sued, raising their banners in revolt. Biden responded to those Republican politicians by saying, “If you aren’t going to help, at least get out of the way.” He was criticized for having an overly emotional response. Like the legend of the American automobile industry, Lee Iacocca, frequently said, “Lead, follow, or get out of the way.”

'No Serious Economist Is Suggesting Price Increases Could Spiral Out of Control'

The most serious concern is that prices are soaring. At his recent speech at the Port of Baltimore, Biden revealed that the administration is “prioritizing getting prices down.” However, just a couple of months ago there was a time when he underestimated it: “No serious economist is suggesting price increases could spiral out of control.” In addition to the inflation issue, the Biden administration has also been criticized for its lack of ability to analyze situations in foreign affairs, such as the withdrawal from Afghanistan. There is a verb, “spiral,” in front of “out of control.” The word “spiral” has a large visual effect.

*Editor's Note: This quotation, accurately translated, could not be verified.


최근 조 바이든 미국 대통령이 재선 도전 의사를 밝혔지만 지지율은 영 시원찮습니다. 취임한 지 1년도 안 된 상황에서 각종 경제 문제, 코로나19 대응 미흡 등으로 인해 지지자들조차 그에게서 등을 돌리고 있습니다.

△“He‘s missing a beat. He’s not what he once was.”

바이든 대통령의 건강 상태, 특히 정신건강에 대한 우려가 높습니다. 요즘 TV 화면에 비친 바이든 대통령의 모습은 기력이 달려 보이고 미 정계를 주름 잡던 전성기 시절과 확실히 차이가 있습니다. 그는 연설 때마다 기억력 감퇴, 잦은 말실수 등의 문제점을 노출해 왔습니다. 한 정치 분석가는 이렇게 말합니다. “그는 자주 비트(리듬)를 놓친다. 더 이상 과거의 그가 아니다.” ‘비트를 놓치다(miss a beat)’는 밀고 나가야 할 시점에 주저하는 것을 말합니다.

△“If you aren‘t going to help, at least get out of the way.”
바이든 행정부의 백신 접종 의무화 정책도 반발에 부딪혔습니다. 얼마 전 공화당 주지사들은 단체로 위헌 소송을 제기하며 반기를 들었습니다. 바이든 대통령은 그런 공화당 주지사들을 향해 “안 도와줄 거면 비켜라”면서 발끈했습니다. 이에 대해 “지나친 감정적 대응”이라는 비판이 나왔습니다. 미 자동차 산업의 전설로 불리는 리 아이어코카 전 크라이슬러 회장은 생전에 “Lead, follow, or get out the way”라는 말을 자주 썼습니다. “(수동적으로 가만히 있지 말고) 앞서든지, 뒤따르든지, 이것도 저것도 아니면 아예 비켜라”는 겁니다.

△“No serious economist is suggesting price increases could spiral out of control.”

가장 심각한 고민은 물가가 치솟고 있다는 것입니다. 최근 바이든 대통령은 볼티모어항을 방문해 “인플레이션 잡기에 최대 역점을 두고 있다”고 밝혔습니다. 하지만 몇 개월 전만 해도 “그 어떤 진지한 경제학자도 지금의 물가상승이 통제 불능 상태가 될 것이라고 예견하지 않는다”면서 과소평가했던 적이 있습니다. 인플레는 물론이고 아프가니스탄 철군 사태 등 외교 문제에서도 바이든 행정부는 상황 분석력이 부족하다는 지적이 많습니다. ‘Out of control(걷잡을 수 없는)’ 앞에는 ‘get’ ‘spiral’ 등의 동사가 붙습니다. ‘Spiral(소용돌이치며 치솟다)’이 시각적인 효과가 크죠.
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