This exchange took place at the first debate:
And we — we are spending billions of dollars on missile defense. And I actually believe that we need missile defense, because of Iran and North Korea and the potential for them to obtain or to launch nuclear weapons, but I also believe that, when we are only spending a few hundred million dollars on nuclear proliferation, then we’re making a mistake.
Obama, 9/26/08 Presidential Debate 1
McCain Responds:
But in the case of missile defense, Senator Obama said it had to be, quote, “proven.” That wasn’t proven when Ronald Reagan said we would do SDI, which is missile defense. And it was major — a major factor in bringing about the end of the Cold War.
McCain, 9/26/08 Presidential Debate 1
McCain is referring to this video where Obama said:
[I will]…cut unproven missile defense systems
Does this prove anyone to be lying?
September 27th, 2008 at 10:02 pm
This doesn’t seem to be a lie. He said he thinks we need missle defense, but would cut funds for unproven systems. The question is, what does he consider unproven? I do not know enough about missle systems to outline the various types and which he may feel are beneficial and which drain our economy.