In the movie “Casablanca,’’ Claude Rains famously explains to Humphrey Bogart why he is shutting his café down. “I’m shocked, shocked to find out that gambling is going on here.’’ Rains does this with straight-faced indignation as he is handed his gambling winnings.

This is the perfect metaphor for Donald Trump and the Republican Party. They know Trump’s past and present history. And now, with the release of Trump’s over-the-top lewd remarks caught on tape, Republicans are doing a Claude Rains impersonation as fast as they can.

Only problem is that they can’t act as well as Claude Rains.

Bruce Zabinsky

Waban