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Wash Post's Capehart: Mr. President, Issue the Executive Order on Immigration You Promised

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Washington Post editorial writer Jonathan Capehart has a message for President Obama – keep your promise, take executive action on immigration:

Mr. President, issue the executive order on immigration you promised. The arguments for and against such a move are all valid. Whatever you do will inspire blinding rage from the opposing corner. And if you’re going to get folks mad, it ought to be in the service of helping people who are trapped in a broken system long neglected by Washington.

Capehart’s message is emphatic and backed up by Democratic operatives:

“He’s now promised twice,” said Karen Finney, a Democratic strategist and a former communications director for the Democratic National Committee, of the president. “Who cares if it angers the GOP and they say it shows Obama won’t compromise. They’ve made their position clear.” Gabi Domenzain, former director of Hispanic press for Obama for America, told me that executive action ought to jolt Congress into doing something. “Republicans have done nothing but block and kill sensible measures that would fix our broken immigration system,” she said. “If they they don’t like the fact that they’ve forced the president to go at this alone, they can do their jobs and create a legislative fix.

“Taking executive action is about doing what’s right by people who are caught in a broken system,” Domenzain continued. “People need relief immediately. Every day families are suffering through a cruel, inhumane and broken system that we all acknowledge needs to be fixed. So first and foremost, we must relieve families’ suffering.”

The President did promise. And, he reiterated his commitment to take action yesterday at a White House press conference. There is going to be a lot of pressure on the President to finally deliver – and, as we know, a massive effort  urging him to not act. Capehart’s last word make it clear that Obama has to deliver on his promise:

Whether he does it in the glow of television lights in the East Room or under the cover of darkness in the Oval Office or the private residence, the president must hold true to his word.

The president must hold true to his word.