Dallas, NC-North Carolina Democratic Party Chair Jerry Meek delivered the following remarks at a press conference at Biggerstaff Park in Gaston County, NC, located near Gaston College, where President Bush gave a speech in support of the Central American Free Trade Agreement:

"Today, President Bush was in Gaston County for one reason - to provide political cover for Congresswoman Sue Myrick who is selling out her constituents by committing to vote in favor of the Central American Free Trade Agreement. Congresswoman Myrick needed the President to try to sell an unfair trade deal that will benefit big corporations at the expense of American workers.

When we send our elected officials to Washington, we expect them to represent us-to represent the best interests of their constituents. To be sure, we expect politics to play a part during political campaigns, but once a candidate gets elected we expect her to rise above politics and show real leadership and judgment.

Two weeks ago, Senator Richard Burr joined Senator Dole and voted in favor of CAFTA. Senator Burr supported CAFTA despite the fact that candidate Burr opposed CAFTA. Why did Richard Burr flip-flop? Politics. President Bush twisted his arm, the administration made some promises, and he caved.

Now, Sue Myrick has caved as well, making her the only House Member from North Carolina -- from either party -- committed to voting for CAFTA.

When George Bush offered to come to Greensboro if Congressman Howard Coble would agree to support CAFTA, Coble said no.

Sue Myrick was sent to Washington to represent her constituents, the people of Gaston and surrounding counties. But she couldn't face them alone today. She needed Air Force One, motorcades, and the hoopla surrounding the President of the United States in Dallas, North Carolina to cover up the fact that she is simply wrong - to cover up the fact that she is selling out her constituents.

And I can understand why she should be ashamed:

Since 2000, there have been 23 textile plant closings, and 12 more have laid off workers in Gaston County. As a result, 2,665 people have lost their jobs. Since 1995, 42 plants have closed and over 5,800 Gaston County textile workers have lost their jobs. Over the same time period, 15,000 manufacturing jobs have been lost in Gaston County.

And Gaston County is not alone. North Carolina has lost over 230,000 textile and manufacturing jobs since NAFTA was signed in 1993.

Hasn't Sue Myrick learned anything? Would she rather stand with the people who have made our state great or fall prey to old fashioned political pressure?

I guess we got our answer today.

Why is CAFTA bad for Gaston County, bad for North Carolina, and bad for our country?

Ross Perot said, "NAFTA will cause a giant sucking sound as jobs go south." This time, Perot got it right.

We still buy textiles, but most aren't made in Dallas or Belmont or Kannapolis anymore. They are made cheaply by underpaid workers in faraway places. They are made by workers who often labor under harsh conditions, in countries with little or no respect for environmental protection.

I am not preaching protectionism. In the 21st century, we can't - and shouldn't - attempt to wall ourselves off from the global economy. But the simple truth is that CAFTA is a bad deal for America. We need free trade, but we must also demand FAIR trade.

CAFTA, like NAFTA before it, is unfair trade. The only exports CAFTA will produce are American jobs.

CAFTA would give new protections to U.S. multinational companies for operating outside this country, creating new incentives for them to ship jobs overseas.

At the same time, CAFTA would reduce protections for workers--here and in Central America. This combination will make goods produced in other countries cheaper and will make it impossible for U.S. manufacturers to compete.

CAFTA does not require any of the Central American nations to adopt stronger environmental protections, it merely suggests that they enforce their existing standards. It does not require them to improve working conditions, it merely suggests that they enforce their existing labor standards. Folks, I've traveled to every country in Central America. And I've lived in Nicaragua, the poorest country in the region. None of these countries' environmental or labor standards even approach international norms, much less U.S. standards.

As a lawyer, I try to negotiate the best deal I can for my clients. Simply put, CAFTA is not the best deal America can get. Mr. President, go back to the negotiating table and bring us a new trade agreement that Americans can literally work with.

Our party has always been a Party which has fought for working families. That's why we're here today. This is a battle between the narrow interests of small but powerful groups and the overall good of our state and its working families.

We've already suffered the consequences of unfair federal trade polices before. Why would we want to do it again?

Mr. President, you have no idea what it's like to live paycheck to paycheck or to go without an income. You have no idea what it's like to lose a job and health insurance for you and your family. You have no idea what it's like to apply for "economic transition" assistance and be turned down, due to under-funding of the program. You have no idea what it's like to search for a new job, only to find one that pays substantially less than the job you lost due to unfair trade agreements.

Ms. Myrick, we're calling your bluff today and we won't forget that you had a chance to do what was right for your constituents. We won't forget that you chose a free ride on Air Force One over the best interests of North Carolina. Through your support of CAFTA, North Carolinians are the ones being taken for a ride.

We are lucky to have Governor Mike Easley at the helm of our state. He has worked tirelessly since taking office to try to create jobs that counteract unfair federal trade agreements.

We as Democrats will fight every day for the working families of our state and nation.

While I came here today in a Chevrolet and not Air Force One, you can count on me to continue to fight."