共和黨應與特朗普保持距離
So far have expectations of Donald Trump fallen during his candidacy for president that a debate in which he threatened to start a criminal prosecution against his opponent was regarded by pundits as a relative success.
唐納德•特朗普(Donald Trump)競選總統這一路走來，人們對他的期望值已經降到了如此低的地步：他在上週日的那場大選辯論中威脅要對他的對手提起刑事訴訟，而專家們認爲他在這場辯論中的表現還是相對成功的。
But Sunday’s debate was overshadowed by the revelation, which first broke on Friday, of a video from 2005 in which Mr Trump boasts of sexual assault.
但跟上週五首次曝出的一則2005年的視頻相比，上週日的大選辯論根本不算什麼——在那則視頻中，特朗普吹噓性侵行爲。
There have been so many outrages in his campaign, from insults to Mexicans to the suggestion that all Muslims should be banned from entering the US, that his opponents may be surprised anyone was shocked.
他在競選中發表過如此多令人髮指的言論，從侮辱墨西哥人到建議美國應禁止所有穆斯林入境，人們對他的這些言論已見怪不怪了，如果還有人感到震驚，他的對手們可能會感到意外。
But the first major poll since the release of the tape showed a strong reaction against him and it seems likely there are many who will now reconsider voting for a candidate who essentially bragged about committing a crime.
但自上述視頻曝出後的首份主要民調顯示，人們對特朗普反應強烈，很多人現在似乎會重新考慮要不要投票給一位實際上曾誇耀自己罪行的候選人。
For the moment, the most difficult decision rests with Mr Trump’s fellow Republican politicians.
目前，最困難的決定落在特朗普的共和黨同僚肩上。
Many have already refused to endorse him: there is no living ex-president or presidential candidate, with the exception of Bob Dole, who will put their name to Mr Trump’s campaign.
很多共和黨人已拒絕支持他：沒有一位前總統或總統候選人（除鮑勃•多爾(Bob Dole)之外）願意爲特朗普背書。
Another swath of Republican politicians signalled a split with Mr Trump over the weekend.
上週末，又有一些共和黨政治人士表示與特朗普分道揚鑣。
For those, such as House Speaker Paul Ryan, who are desperately trying to hedge their positions on the matter, and for those Republican figures still undecided, the revelations will only have heightened their dilemma.
對於美國衆議院議長保羅•瑞安(Paul Ryan)等正急切地設法在這個問題上明哲保身的人以及尚未做出決定的共和黨要人而言，這則視頻只會讓他們更加左右爲難。
No Republicans who publicly back Mr Trump at this stage are likely to do anything but damage their reputation.
任何一位在現階段公開支持特朗普的共和黨人只會毀壞自己的聲譽。
Both on grounds of policy — to the extent that he actually has any consistent and coherent views — and with regard to character, he is woefully unsuited to be president.
從政策（如果他真有連貫且一致的觀點的話）和性格兩方面而言，他都非常不適合擔任總統。
Yet there will be deeper lessons here for the Republican party, which it needs to begin to grasp even during the campaign if it is not to suffer irreparable damage by association.
然而，共和黨需要從此事中吸取一些更深刻的教訓，要避免因跟特朗普聯繫在一起而遭受不可彌補的損害，共和黨眼下就需要着手釐清這些教訓（即便競選還在進行之中）。
Mr Trump may be a caricature, but he is a caricature with some recognisable Republican features.
特朗普或許是個小丑，但他身上帶有一些清晰可辨的共和黨特徵。
Mr Trump achieved his start in national politics by campaigning on the absurd birther issue, claiming — a lie with clear racial overtones — that Barack Obama had been born outside the US and was thus an illegitimate president.
通過圍繞荒謬的出生地問題進行造勢（宣稱巴拉克•奧巴馬(Barack Obama)是在美國以外地區出生的，因此是一位不合法的總統——這是個帶有明顯種族主義的謊言），他的全國政治之路邁出了第一步。
That contention could have been quashed by the Republican leadership on Capitol Hill dismissing it as obvious nonsense; instead, they allowed the story to run.
美國國會裏的共和黨領導層原本可以平息這種說法，但他們卻聽任這個說法發酵。
Mr Trump’s views on immigrants are ludicrous, but the Republican establishment has itself moved rapidly towards a nativist approach in recent decades.
特朗普有關移民的觀點是荒唐的，但最近幾十年，共和黨建制派本身也已經快速轉向一種本土主義路線。
As for the candidate’s musings that the US should consider reneging on its national debt, Republicans on Capitol Hill have brought the US close to default by playing politics with the debt ceiling.
至於特朗普認爲美國應考慮對其國家債務違約——美國國會的共和黨人通過在債務上限的問題上玩弄政治，已把美國推到接近違約的境地。
Mr Trump is by no means a typical Republican, but he is playing on fears and prejudices systematically stoked over the years by his party.
特朗普絕不是一個典型的共和黨人，但他利用的是共和黨多年來系統性煽動起來的恐懼和偏見。
At this point, it is almost certainly too late to remove Mr Trump from the ticket unless he voluntarily steps down.
此刻，除非特朗普自願退出，否則要把他從總統候選人名單上劃掉幾乎肯定是太遲了。
Reportedly, the Republican National Committee over the weekend at least temporarily suspended the money it was putting into the presidential campaign and redirected spending towards congressional races.
據報道，上週末，共和黨全國委員會(Republican National Committee)至少暫時停掉了要撥給總統競選活動的資金，轉而將經費投向國會競選。
But the party needs a more determined effort to distance itself from its candidate.
但共和黨需要採取更堅決的措施與它的總統候選人保持距離。
Whatever happens in next month’s election, anyone who endorses and supports Mr Trump will be associated with his racially inflammatory remarks and his unrepentant boasting about sexual assault.
不管下月的總統大選會發生什麼，任何一個爲特朗普背書並支持他的人，都會與他的種族煽動性言論以及他對性侵行爲不思悔改的炫耀聯繫在一起。
It was already overdue for decent Republicans to distance themselves from Mr Trump.
正派的共和黨人早就應該與特朗普保持距離了。
The case for doing so now is overwhelming.
眼下這樣做有着無比充分的理由。
