No, it means he really understands it. No country is going to maintain a strong economy without a manufacturing base. Research and development jobs go to where the manufacturing base is.
America needs something to trade other than our debt or equity in our remaining companies.
This is hand-waving nonsense.
Define "manufacturing base". How much manufacturing is necessary to constitute a "manufacturing base" and thus enable a "strong economy".
Some people simply can't distinguish between rational economic reasoning and demagogic sloganeering. I wonder if perhaps you are one such person.
Support Rick Santorum for president in 2012.. bring jobs back to America .. America needs something else to trade other than our debt !