President Barack Obama told Russia's leader Monday that he would have more flexibility after the November election to deal with the contentious issue of missile defense, a candid assessment of political reality that was picked up by a microphone without either leader apparently knowing.
美国总统奥巴马26日在与俄总统梅德韦杰夫的一次私聊中承诺，一旦他再次在11月的总统大选中获胜连任，将在反导系统等有争议的问题上采取更加灵活的政策。奥巴马这番罕见直率的话因麦克风未关而被曝光。

Obama's Republican opponents pounced on the comment, saying the president has a hidden agenda that could include concessions to the Russians if he is re-elected this fall.
美国共和党人对奥巴马的话进行了猛烈的抨击，谴责奥巴马言论背后的动机，直指其表明奥巴马一旦再次获选将在导弹防御系统的问题上屈服于俄罗斯。

"This is my last election," Obama is heard telling outgoing Russian President Dmitry Medvedev. "After my election, I have more flexibility."
奥巴马在这次私聊中对即将卸任的俄总统梅德韦杰夫说：“这是我最后一次选举，当选后，（在这些问题上）我将有更大的灵活性。”

Medvedev replied in English, according to ABC News: "I understand. I will transmit this information to Vladimir," an apparent reference to incoming President Vladmir Putin.
根据ABC电视台的报道，梅德韦杰夫用英语回答奥巴马说：“我明白你的意思，我将会在这个讯息带给普京。” 这里显然指的是俄罗斯新当选的下任总统普京。

Obama and Medvedev did not intend for their comments, made during a meeting in Seoul, South Korea, to be made public.
奥巴马与梅德韦杰夫正在首尔出席核峰会，他们并没有打算让这样的私聊公布于众，但显然麦克风不会说谎。

Once they were, the White House said Obama's words reflected the reality that domestic political concerns in both the U.S. and Russia this year would make it difficult to fully address their long-standing differences over the contentious issue of missile defense. Obama, should he win re-election, would not have to face voters again.
对这场麦克风风波，白宫当天回应称奥巴马的话反映了美国和俄罗斯国内的政治现实。俄美两国今年正值总统选举，很难解决反导系统等长期存在争议的问题。奥巴马如果在此次的选举中获胜，将不会再面临下一次大选。

"Since 2012 is an election year in both countries, with an election and leadership transition in Russia and an election in the United States, it is clearly not a year in which we are going to achieve a breakthrough," White House deputy national security adviser Ben Rhodes said.
美国总统副国家安全顾问罗兹说：“因为2012年是俄美两国的选举年，俄罗斯举行选举和领导人换届，美国也将举行选举。显而易见，这不是我们能够达成一致观点的年份。”

Obama made light of the flap at his next public meeting with Medvedev. Opening the nuclear security summit that brought both leaders to South Korea, Obama jokingly moved to cover his microphone as he and Medvedev took their seats. "Wait, wait!" Obama said, grinning.
两位领导人目前都在韩国参加核峰会。麦克风风波后，奥巴马再次与梅德韦杰夫公开会面，也并没有对此前的事件有太多顾虑。在与梅德韦杰夫就坐前，奥巴马甚至还开玩笑得用手遮住了麦克风。“等等！等等！” 奥巴马边微笑边说道。

Obama's candid remarks Monday illustrated the political constraints that hem in any president who is running for re-election and dealing with a congressional chamber — in this case, the House — controlled by the rival party. Republicans have fought Obama fiercely on health care, taxes and other issues. They are eager to deny him any political victories in a season in which they feel the White House is within reach, although Obama's remarks suggested he feels good about his re-election prospects.
奥巴马在周一直率的言论也表明了每位参加连任竞选的总统受到的政治制约，尤其是在目前美国的国会众议院由敌对党派把持的情况下。共和党人就医疗政策、税收和其他棘手问题猛烈地抨击奥巴马，他们急切地想否定奥巴马的所以政治成就，共和党人自信总统大选已经唾手可得。不过奥巴马的私聊也表示他对自己连任竞选的前景很是看好。

Even if Obama was confiding a political reality in a supposedly private moment, the comments gave the GOP new openings to question his sincerity and long-range plans. Mitt Romney, the leading Republican contender to face Obama this fall, told a San Diego audience the unguarded comments were "an alarming and troubling development."
即使奥巴马是在这样的私聊中袒露国内政治现实，美国共和党还是质疑他的真诚和远期计划。共和党目前领先的总统参选人罗姆尼将在这个秋天和奥巴马正面交锋，他对圣地亚哥的观众称奥巴马的大意言论“令人震惊”、“令人不安”。