Obama talks oil in NM's oil patch

MALJAMAR, NM (KRQE) - New Mexico welcomed President Barack Obama in Maljamar Wednesday night as he gave a speech about domestic oil and gas production.

The president landed in Roswell at around 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, taking a few minutes to talk with Governor Susana Martinez and snapping photos with the crowd before getting on Marine One and heading to Maljamar, New Mexico.

There President Obama gave a speech on federal land about the importance of domestic production, and he couldn't resist starting off with an alien joke.

“I announced to people when I landed that I had come in peace,” Obama said.

The president quickly got down to business; touting his work to get American oil fields pumping.

“Under my administration America is producing more oil today that at any time in the last eight years, that's a fact,” Obama said.

Republican Representative Steve Pearce said in a phone interview that Obama shouldn't take all the credit.

“Well, most of the rules he is working under came on the Bush administration,” Pearce said.

Pearce said he welcomes Obama to his district, but he does not think the visit was just about energy.

“I don't think he's coming in to instruct BLM, you guys do your work,” said Pearce.

The President addressed criticism head on.

“If you hear anybody on TV saying that somehow we are against drilling for oil, then you will know they either don't know what they are talking about or they are not telling you the truth,” Obama said.