In their meeting at Anthony’s party, Sen. Geary tells Michael: “I despise your masquerade -- the dishonest way you pose yourself. Yourself, and your whole fucking family.” Michael replies: “We’re both part of the same hypocrisy, Senator, but never think that it applies to my family.”

This admission strikes me as out of character for Michael. His life after his return from Sicily was defined by his quest for “legitimacy” and his nonstop efforts to rationalize his business and his behavior as no less justifiable and respectable than what politicians and other big businessmen did. He expressed it perfectly to Kay in New Hampshire in GF: “My father's no different than any other powerful man --any man who's responsible for other people. Like a senator or a president.” Now, with Geary, Michael seems to be acknowledging that he’s a phony and is part of a general fraud on the public (as is Geary).

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