From a couch in an Airbnb rental in Miami, Moulton criticized Sen. Elizabeth Warren's free college plan as he watched Wednesday's debate unfold on television.
Democratic presidential candidate Seth Moulton (D., Mass.) did not appear in the first debate, but that did not stop him from attacking the policy platform of one of the candidates on the stage. David Catanese, senior policy writer at U.S. News, was with Moulton during the debate, and wrote about the candidate's observations on the event. The Massachusetts congressman was not on the stage because he failed to meet the mandated polling and donor standards.
When Elizabeth Warren spoke about her plan to provide free college, Moulton did not hesitate to denigrate the plan and brand it as a foolish area to focus government spending.
"You could literally end poverty in America for five or six years for what she's going to give to kids who are trying to pay for their own college," Moulton said. "Half of America goes to college and it's not the bottom half."
Warren did not face push-back on her free college plan from other candidates on stage, but Moulton insisted to Catanese that he would have called her out had he been at the debate.
The congressman also maligned Warren for her positions on corporations, tech companies, and health care.
Moulton had choice words for Warren's Medicare for All plan. "Having surgery and getting sent home with the wrong medicine. She doesn't have any idea what's that like," he said. "Well that's great, you studied it? Thank you Professor Warren, but here's what it's like."
Moulton may have personal cause to slam Warren on her policies. Catanese reported that the congressman was irked when Warren RSVP'd to his wedding in 2017 but canceled at the last minute.
Moulton's press secretary noted that Warren "sent a very lovely card."
Seth Moulton has built a reputation for his willingness to take aim at fellow Democratic colleagues. Moulton was one of the Democrats who called for Nancy Pelosi to step away from her leadership position. Politico has reported that Moulton is little loved by senior House Democrats, with one Democratic aide saying "I don’t think I’ve seen a more opportunistic, duplicitous person serving in the House."
Warren was not the only candidate Wednesday night to draw criticism from Moulton. The congressman did not like how "angry" Cory Booker came off when the senator discussed immigration, and also called Tulsi Gabbard "dangerous" for her foreign policy record.