Senate candidate attacks free trade agreements

Bob Conley, who is challenging U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) for the seat, said he's holding his opponent's feet to the fire in the election.

Speaking to a group of roughly 10 gathered at Bobby's Bar-B-Q Buffet sponsored by the Aiken Ron Paul Campaign for Liberty, Conley wasted no time in getting down to the issues, chief of which he said was Graham's support of "so-called" free trade agreements.

He said the agreements are only eroding away at the sovereignty of the United States and forcing this nation to depend on other countries - like Communist China - for its goods and manufacturing.

"America first," Conley said. "(The agreements) are a huge cost to national independence and a huge cost to national security."

He added that to regain the 3.5 million manufacturing jobs lost in President George W. Bush's economy, he proposes a fair tax that "will put manufacturers on an even playing field with imported goods."

Switching from free trade agreements to gas prices, Conley drew chuckles from the audience when he asked if anyone thought they were paying too little for gas.

He wants to see shale opened up for drilling to produce oil shale to power America's vehicles.

"There are over 600,000 vehicles in the federal fleet," Conley said. "We need to have vehicles that operate on something other than petroleum. Let's give Detroit a market. One thing I can do as senator is say, 'Hey, let's move the federal fleet in that direction and take a look at the fuel situation.'"

Conley also supports ending the war in Iraq and bringing home the troops, safeguarding civil liberties and protecting the nation's borders from illegal entry.

Conley, 43, is a Marion, Ind., native. He currently lives in Myrtle Beach and backed Ron Paul in this year's South Carolina presidential primary before signing on as Democrat in the primary.

He is a commercial pilot as well as a licensed professional engineer.