Obama to Latinos: "I Need You to Have My Back"

WASHINGTON President Barack Obama went before a Hispanic crowd Thursday fervently promising to fight on immigration reform until the job is done, including taking executive action by the end of the year, and then imploring Latinos to "have my back."

"If anybody wants to know where my heart is or whether I want to have this fight, let me put those questions to rest right now, I am not going to give up this fight until it gets done," Obama said in a much anticipated speech falling in the middle of Hispanic Heritage month.

Though he delivered the speech at the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute's annual gala to a largely friendly crowd, Obama's words were intended for a larger community of Latinos and immigrants who were left deflated by his decision to postpone executive action that could relieve some immigrants from the threat of deportation.

He has taken some harsh criticism that has left some questioning whether Latinos should support Democrats in the midterms or show up at the polls altogether.

Obama said it was no longer a question of whether he'd take executive action for immigrants here illegally, but when. But he also said for any action to last and extend beyond his remaining two years in office, he needs support so it sustains and lasts.

"I'm going to need you to have my back. I'm going to need you to have my back," Obama said emphasizing the point. "... the fact of the matter is no matter how bold I go, nothing I can do will be as comprehensive and lasting as the Senate bill."

Then Obama got to the heart of what has been roiling the Latino community since he delayed executive action at the end of summer, putting it off until after elections.

"If we want that legislation to happen sooner rather than later then there is one more thing I need you to do, I've got to have you talk to your constituents and your communities and you've got to get them out to vote."

"Si se puede, si votamos. Yes we can if you vote," Obama said.

Demonstrators with the groups National Day Laborer Organizing Network, Workers United of Washington and the #Not1More Campaign, protest an increase in deportations and US President Barack Obama's immigration policies outside the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute's Gala Dinner at the Washington Convention Center on Oct. 2.

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Obama to Latinos: "I Need You to Have My Back"

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