AOC accuses Buttigieg of pushing 'GOP talking point' regarding education

In a campaign video tweeted out on Thursday, Buttigieg agreed that college should be “affordable for everybody,” but questioned the feasibility of implementing a tuition-free system for all.

“There are some voices saying, ‘well that doesn’t count unless you go even further, unless it’s free even for the kids of millionaires,’ but I only want to make promises that we can keep,” the South Bend, Indiana, mayor stated. “We can gather the majority to drive those big ideas through without turning off half the country before we even get into office.”

Ocasio-Cortez argued that Buttigieg’s ad was pushing “a GOP talking point used to dismantle public systems” to the ad in a Twitter thread on Thursday. She also said, “It’s sad to see a Dem candidate adopt it.”

“Let’s talk about why Republicans are wrong on this. Just like rich kids can attend public school, they should be able to attend tuition-free public college. Here’s why,” she continued. “Universal public systems are designed to benefit EVERYBODY! Everyone contributes & everyone enjoys. We don’t ban the rich from public schools, firefighters, or libraries bc they are public goods.”

Ocasio-Cortez also argued that leaving people out of a public goods service would lead to “cracks in the system,” because “universal systems that benefit everyone are stronger [because] everyone’s invested!”

“Lastly, and I can’t believe we have to remind people of this, but it’s GOOD to have classrooms (from pre-k through college!) to be socioeconomically integrated,” she added. “Having students from different incomes & backgrounds in the same classroom is good for society & economic mobility.”

UPDATE: Sean Savett, Rapid Response Communications Director of the Buttigieg campaign, directed the Washington Examiner to two tweets put out by members of campaign. Savett tweeted, “Pete would make public college tuition-free for 80% of families. And he’d provide tuition assistance for the next 10% of families. But some say he’s not progressive because he won’t make college free for millionaires + billionaires who already have advantages?”

Lis Smith, a senior advisor for the campaign, tweeted, “If you think that a worker who didn’t go to college should pay for college for a CEO’s kid, then @PeteButtigieg isn’t your candidate.”