What do Marlon Brando, Rod Steiger, Kevin Costner, Al Pacino, and James Gandolfini all have in common? They portrayed America's most famous criminal on the silver screen, Al Capone. Known as Scarface, this immigrant gave city Americans relief from moral restrictions placed on them by rural housewives, Christian fundamentalists, and self-appointed moral and spiritual police in the KKK. All three were bound together by their hatred of immigrants, big-city life, Black northern migration, and burgeoning feminism. They got booze politically eliminated, and Capone was willing to repeat Christ's first miracle for a small fee. He was both sinner and saint.
I'm recommending President Donald Trump for an Oscar for being a modern-day godfather. He seems wrapped in Teflon. Many of his supporters dislike immigrants, women's rights, racial equality, and urban living. Like Capone, Trump hides his taxes, sleeps around, launders money, and hires people to take a bullet for him if necessary. He's really “an untouchable.” He managed to have the Senate give him a get-out-of-jail-free card after being impeached. This self-described “genius” hides his grades and taxes, and he evaded the draft due to bone spurs.
Capone had a different support group. Trump is different. As long as he keeps immigrants at bay, restricts abortion rights, fights racial equality, and nominates conservative judges to various courts, his supporters will hold their noses and stick with him.
By the way, Scarface died in prison from a heart attack and a health strain of syphilis.
Dave Griffin
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Duluth
