I think he was trying to say to buy American, to support america and its workers, instead of chinese communists. If you give your money to our enemy, communist china, it makes them stronger, and will eventually cost more american lives when we go to war with communist china.
For example, it would be bad policy(for a governemnt or a private individual) to have (financially) supported germany or Hitler in the 19200's and 1930's, which would have enabled him to build a super war machine.
I do agree with you some what here. But, using government force to manage our imports and exports and government force to make consumers pay more for goods will do what?
Shut off the $ flow to China? Do you think they will just say "OK, no big deal we understand" Or do you think it push up the time table for war and make them even more twitchy?
What do you say to the families that lose everything when the 800 billion export market to China dries up?