A Russian journalist opines:
As ridiculous as it might seem, I think it is because he is black. Because now the old adage that “over there they shoot black people” no longer holds water.
One of the foundations of Russian foreign relations is the abiding conviction that “over there” everything is just like it is “over here”: manipulated elections, strict control over the media, corruption, and nationalism. The Americans are just better at covering it up. This is why Putin, at recent talks, suddenly broke into a rant about firing American journalists for censorship.
And no “democratic values” exist it all; it’s all just a scam to keep the populace reined in.
I suspect that Obama’s election will cause even the most loyal viewers of [Russian pro-government television program] Vremya to experience doubts about this scheme.