He couldn't preserve the political lives of fellow Democrats this month, but he can still save a turkey.
President Barack Obama pardoned "Apple," a 45-pound bird, and his feathered friend, "Cider," on Wednesday in an annual White House ritual ahead ofThanksgiving, a holiday Americans celebrate with a big turkey dinner.
"Today, I have the awesome responsibility of granting a presidential pardon to a pair of turkeys," Obama, standing with his two daughters in the White House Rose Garden, told a smiling audience.
"Now, for the record, let me say that it feels pretty good to stop at least one shellacking this November."
Democrats lost strength in the Senate and their majority in the House of Representatives on November 2 in elections Obama described famously as a "shellacking", or heavy beating.
Politics took a backseat to the more high-profile turkey ceremony on Wednesday, however, and the president -- calling it "one official duty I am sworn to uphold as the leader of the most powerful nation on Earth" -- made the most of it.
He explained the process that led to the birds' selection: two turkeys from a California ranch won the high-stakes competition by strutting to music before a panel of judges.
"Only one pair would survive and win the big prize: life and an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington," Obama said to laughter.
White House staff had gathered outside to watch. Obama's chief economist, Austan Goolsbee, dispensed advice about turkey preparation, proclaiming the virtues of brining the bird before it is cooked.
Apple and Cider will not have to worry about a brine bath.
The two turkeys will spend the rest of their days on the grounds of Mount Vernon, the Virginia estate of the first U.S. president, George Washington.
(Read by Nelly Min. Nelly Min is a journalist at the China Daily Website.)
點擊查看更多雙語新聞
(Agencies)
美國總統貝拉克•歐巴馬本月雖然未能保住民主黨的政治前途，但還是可以保住一隻火雞的性命。
本周三，在白宮舉行的一年一度的感恩節前赦免火雞儀式上，歐巴馬赦免了45磅重的火雞「蘋果」和它的好友「蘋果汁」。美國人常以一場盛大的火雞宴來歡慶感恩節。
赦免儀式在白宮玫瑰園舉行。歐巴馬在兩個女兒的陪伴下對面帶微笑的觀眾們說：「今天，作為總統，我帶著神聖的職責來赦免一對火雞。」
「坦率地講，這至少使11月的這次慘敗帶來的鬱悶之情一掃而光，感覺棒極了。」
在11月2日舉行的美國國會中期選舉中，民主黨在參議院的優勢被削弱，而且失去了眾議院多數席位，被歐巴馬稱為「慘痛的失敗」，或沉重打擊。
而與政壇相比，本周三舉行的赦免火雞儀式更引人注目，歐巴馬充分利用了這一契機。他表示，「作為全球最強大國家的領導人，赦免火雞儀式是我誓言要擁護的一項職責。」
他介紹了兩隻火雞的「海選」經過：它們來自加州的一個農場，在激烈競爭中勝出，比賽方法是讓火雞們聽著音樂在評審團面前昂首闊步地行進。
歐巴馬笑著說：「只有一對火雞能活下來，它們贏得的大獎就是：活著，以及一次華盛頓免費遊。」
白宮工作人員觀看了此次赦免。歐巴馬的首席經濟學家斯坦•古斯比向眾人散發了火雞烹飪準備的小貼士，並指出了做火雞前將它用鹽水浸泡的好處。
「蘋果」和「蘋果汁」再也不用擔心洗「鹽水浴」了。
兩隻火雞將在美國首任總統喬治•華盛頓位於維吉尼亞州的故居弗農山莊度過餘生。
相關閱讀
感恩節成家庭火災高發日
感恩節後購物季 欲進且退
感恩節遊行改路線 紐約市民不答應
南瓜歉收 美國人感恩節可能告別南瓜派
美國新舊總統感恩節各自感恩
國際空間站太空人冰茶、火雞慶感恩節
好萊塢明星感恩節心繫慈善
（中國日報網英語點津 Julie 編輯：馮明惠）