The Bush administration is defending its handling of the U.S. economy at a time of growing public unease. During a series of interviews on American television Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson stressed the government will do what it takes to maintain stability in the financial system.
在公众对经济形势越来越感到不安的时候，布什政府为处理美国经济的作法进行辩护。在接受美国电视台采访的一系列节目中，财政部长保尔森强调说，政府将尽一切努力保持财政体系的稳定。
The White House is waging an all-out effort to ease election year fears about the economy.
白宫正在做出一切努力来平息人们在大选年对经济的担忧。
Polls show it is the number-one issue on the minds of most Americans, and from the president on down administration figures are seeking to reassure the public.
调查显示，这是大多数美国人心中的头等大事。现在从总统到其他政府领导人都在寻求安抚民心。
They stress the fundamentals of the economy are sound, and steps are being taken to ensure the current slowdown is temporary. A stimulus package of tax rebates and small business incentives has been signed into law.
行政当局说，经济的基本面是健康的，政府也在采取步骤保证让经济增长减缓的现象在短期内结束。一个退税和鼓励小型企业的刺激经济的一揽子计划已经由总统签署成为法律。
And on Friday, the U.S. central bank helped strengthen a major investment firm facing collapse. The firm - Bear Stearns - was caught up in the crisis in the home mortgage market.
星期五，美国中央银行帮助稳固了一个面临垮台的主要投资公司贝尔斯登，这个公司被住房贷款市场危机压得喘不过气来。
On CNN's Late Edition program, Treasury Secretary Paulson said the action taken by the Federal Reserve was warranted.
在有线电视新闻网的夜间节目中，财长保尔森说，美联储采取的行动是有根据的。
"Our number-one priority with everything we are doing in the economic arena is to minimize instability, minimize spill over into the real economy, and I think that is pretty clear from the actions you have seen the government take," said Paulson.
他说：“在我们为经济领域所作的一切努力中的当务之急，就是把不稳定因素降至最低，把它对经济的影响降到最低，我认为从你看到政府采取的行动中，这一点是非常清楚的。”
Paulson said officials are continuing to keep a close watch on the turmoil on the financial markets, but declined to say if the government would step in again to rescue an investment firm.
保尔森说，政府官员继续保持对金融市场动荡的密切关注，但是同时拒绝说明政府会不会再次插手来挽救投资公司。
Instead, he tried to keep the focus on the positive. During an appearance on ABC's This Week program, he expressed confidence that the financial markets would work their way out of the current crisis.
不过他试图集中讨论积极因素。在美国广播公司这个星期的节目中，保尔森对金融市场会最终走出目前的危机表达了他的信心。
