唐纳德•特朗普(Donald Trump)竞选总统这一路走来，人们对他的期望值已经降到了如此低的地步：他在上周日的那场大选辩论中威胁要对他的对手提起刑事诉讼，而专家们认为他在这场辩论中的表现还是相对成功的。
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.
但跟上周五首次曝出的一则2005年的视频相比，上周日的大选辩论根本不算什么——在那则视频中，特朗普吹嘘性侵行为。
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.
他在竞选中发表过如此多令人发指的言论，从侮辱墨西哥人到建议美国应禁止所有穆斯林入境，人们对他的这些言论已见怪不怪了，如果还有人感到震惊，他的对手们可能会感到意外。
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.
但自上述视频曝出后的首份主要民调显示，人们对特朗普反应强烈，很多人现在似乎会重新考虑要不要投票给一位实际上曾夸耀自己罪行的候选人。
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.
目前，最困难的决定落在特朗普的共和党同僚肩上。
For the moment, the most difficult decision rests with Mr Trump’s fellow Republican politicians.
很多共和党人已拒绝支持他：没有一位前总统或总统候选人（除鲍勃•多尔(Bob Dole)之外）愿意为特朗普背书。
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.
上周末，又有一些共和党政治人士表示与特朗普分道扬镳。
Another swath of Republican politicians signalled a split with Mr Trump over the weekend.
对于美国众议院议长保罗•瑞安(Paul Ryan)等正急切地设法在这个问题上明哲保身的人以及尚未做出决定的共和党要人而言，这则视频只会让他们更加左右为难。
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.
任何一位在现阶段公开支持特朗普的共和党人只会毁坏自己的声誉。
No Republicans who publicly back Mr Trump at this stage are likely to do anything but damage their reputation.
从政策（如果他真有连贯且一致的观点的话）和性格两方面而言，他都非常不适合担任总统。
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.
然而，共和党需要从此事中吸取一些更深刻的教训，要避免因跟特朗普联系在一起而遭受不可弥补的损害，共和党眼下就需要着手厘清这些教训（即便竞选还在进行之中）。
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.
特朗普或许是个小丑，但他身上带有一些清晰可辨的共和党特征。
Mr Trump may be a caricature, but he is a caricature with some recognisable Republican features.
通过围绕荒谬的出生地问题进行造势（宣称巴拉克•奥巴马(Barack Obama)是在美国以外地区出生的，因此是一位不合法的总统——这是个带有明显种族主义的谎言），他的全国政治之路迈出了第一步。
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.
美国国会里的共和党领导层原本可以平息这种说法，但他们却听任这个说法发酵。
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.
特朗普有关移民的观点是荒唐的，但最近几十年，共和党建制派本身也已经快速转向一种本土主义路线。
Mr Trump’s views on immigrants are ludicrous, but the Republican establishment has itself moved rapidly towards a nativist approach in recent decades.
至于特朗普认为美国应考虑对其国家债务违约——美国国会的共和党人通过在债务上限的问题上玩弄政治，已把美国推到接近违约的境地。
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.
特朗普绝不是一个典型的共和党人，但他利用的是共和党多年来系统性煽动起来的恐惧和偏见。
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.
此刻，除非特朗普自愿退出，否则要把他从总统候选人名单上划掉几乎肯定是太迟了。
At this point, it is almost certainly too late to remove Mr Trump from the ticket unless he voluntarily steps down.
据报道，上周末，共和党全国委员会(Republican National Committee)至少暂时停掉了要拨给总统竞选活动的资金，转而将经费投向国会竞选。
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.
但共和党需要采取更坚决的措施与它的总统候选人保持距离。
But the party needs a more determined effort to distance itself from its candidate.
不管下月的总统大选会发生什么，任何一个为特朗普背书并支持他的人，都会与他的种族煽动性言论以及他对性侵行为不思悔改的炫耀联系在一起。
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.
正派的共和党人早就应该与特朗普保持距离了。
It was already overdue for decent Republicans to distance themselves from Mr Trump.
眼下这样做有着无比充分的理由。
The case for doing so now is overwhelming.