E15 政策对许多美国人来说可能比较陌生，但在中西部部分地区，尤其是堪萨斯州，这是一件大事。其重要性使得唐纳德·特朗普最近的言论显得格外引人注目。
The E15 policy is probably unfamiliar to many Americans, but in parts of the Midwest, especially Kansas, it’s a very big deal. Its importance is what made Donald Trump’s latest rhetoric so extraordinary.
简单来说，E15 政策是指一种含 15% 乙醇的生物燃料混合物，作为降低加油站油价努力的一部分出售给消费者。根据现行联邦法律，E15 销售仅限于夏季驾驶季节，但堪萨斯人，尤其是农村地区的居民，更希望全年都能销售 E15。
To oversimplify matters a bit, E15 policy refers a biofuel blend made with 15% ethanol, which is sold to consumers as part of an effort to reduce prices at the pump. Under existing federal laws, E15 sales are limited to the summer driving season, though Kansans, especially in rural areas, would much prefer year-round E15 sales.
考虑到这一点，在总统周一晚间于堪萨斯州举行的竞选集会前，白宫在一份新闻声明中自夸道：“特朗普总统批准全年销售 E15，为堪萨斯州玉米种植者拓展了市场，并让驾驶者在加油站拥有更实惠的选择。” 几小时后，特朗普在竞选活动中发表讲话，以一种意想不到的方式提到了 E15 政策。
With this in mind, ahead of the president’s campaign rally in Kansas on Monday night, the White House boasted in a press statement, “President Trump approved year-round E15 sales, expanding markets for Kansas corn growers and giving drivers more affordable options at the pump.”Hours later, Trump delivered remarks at his campaign event, which touched on the E15 policy — in an unexpected way.
“我还给了堪萨斯州一项豁免，允许全年销售 E15，有现任共和党参议员罗杰·马歇尔在参议院，我们将使全年销售 E15 成为永久政策，”总统说。“但如果[民主党提名人、众议员亚当·汉密尔顿]当选，我就不干这事。就这样。我这么做只是为了他。这对堪萨斯州其实是件大事。” 我注意到，特朗普在竞选政治上的交易式做法近来变得相当厚颜无耻。例如，上周末，总统对肯塔基州的听众表示，政府将投资一个当地经济振兴项目，但前提是他支持的参议院候选人获胜。
“I also gave Kansas a waiver to sell E15 all year round, and with [incumbent Republican Sen.] Roger Marshall in the Senate, we will make year-round E15 permanent,” the president said. “But if [the Rep. Adam Hamilton, the Democratic nominee] is in, I’m not doing it. That’s it. I’m only doing it for him. That’s a big deal for Kansas, actually.”I’m mindful that Trump’s transactional approach to campaign politics has become quite brazen of late. Over the weekend, for example, the president told a Kentucky audience that the administration would invest in a local economic revitalization project, but only if his preferred Senate candidate won.
本月早些时候，特朗普同样对俄亥俄州的听众表示，如果他们不选出一位共和党州长，他可能会对该州未来的紧急援助请求持负面态度。
Earlier this month, Trump similarly told an Ohio audience that he might look unfavorably at the state’s future emergency aid requests if they don’t elect a Republican governor.
实际上在每场集会上，特朗普同样誓言向每位美国成年人发放 5000 美元支票——成本约 1.3 万亿美元——但前提是选举结果让他满意。
At practically every rally, Trump similarly vows to send $5,000 checks to every American adult — at a cost of roughly $1.3 trillion — but only if the election results make him happy.
但他在堪萨斯州关于E15的言论可以说是迄今为止最离谱的。民主党主导的国会没有任何因素会阻止特朗普延长他早前的豁免令，但总统还是将这一政策承诺设定了前提条件，并非因为他不得不这样做，而是因为他想这样做。
But his E15 comments in Kansas are arguably the most outrageous to date. There’s nothing about a Democratic-led Congress that would prevent Trump from extending his earlier waiver, but the president made the policy commitment conditional anyway, not because he to, but because he to.
特朗普实际上告诉堪萨斯州选民，如果他们以令他不悦的方式投票，他准备故意损害该州的利益。如果有什么辩护理由或先例能为这种总统言论辩护，我实在想不出来。
Trump effectively told Kansans he’s prepared to hurt their state on purpose if they vote in a way that displeases him. If there’s a defense or a precedent for such a presidential message, I can’t think of it.