I'm not the first one to make the obvious comparison, but I felt that it deserved a diary of it's own.
For those who can't view the video (and have never seen The Godfather Part II...and if not, what the hell is wrong with you?), here's the transcript of the famous scene...but you have to actually see it to get the full impact:
Sen. Geary: Yeah, well let's cut out the bullshit. I don't want to spend any more time here than I have to. You can have the license, the price is 250,000 dollars. Plus a monthly payment of 5% of the gross -- of all four hotels. Mister -- Corleone.
Michael: Now the price of the license is less than 20,000 dollars, am I right?
Sen. Geary: That's right.
Michael: Now why would I ever consider paying more than that?
Sen. Geary: Because I intend to squeeze you. I don't like your kind of people. I don't like to see you come out to this clean country in your oily hair -- dressed up in those silk suits - and try to pass yourselves off as decent Americans. I'll do business with you, but the fact is, I despise your masquerade -- the dishonest way you pose yourself. Yourself, and your whole fucking family.
Michael: Senator. We're both part of the same hypocrisy. But never think it applies to my family.
Sen. Geary: All right, all right -- some people have to play little games. You play yours. So lets just say that you'll pay me because it is in your interest to pay me. But I want your answer and the money by noon tomorrow. And one more thing: don't you contact me again -- ever. From now on you deal with Turnbull.
(then, to Al)
Open that door son.
[He starts to leave]
Michael: Senator -- you can have my answer now, if you like. My offer is this -- nothing. Not even the fee for the gaming license, which I would appreciate if you would put up personally.
Aside from the pleasantly-surprising amount of spine that Pres. Obama is showing over this issue, I don't think I need to also point out the obvious comparison between the GOP and Sen. Geary's "I don't like your kind of people" quote.
(And I can already hear Republicans trying to attack Obama for "acting like the mafia!", completely and utterly missing the point (as usual).