Obama's Lukewarm Welcome in Russia

Washington Post: Instead of Cheers, Suspicion, Skepticism Greeted President on Visit to Moscow

(Washington Post)  This story was written by Michael A. Fletcher.

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If much of the world is gripped by Obamamania, Russia is decidedly not.

President Obama is frequently greeted by cheering crowds and excited media on his trips abroad, but layers of suspicion that accumulated over the years awaited him here in Russia.

"Who is Mr. Obama? Where did he come from?" asked Nikita Ivanov, 21, a law student. "How did he get to power? He says he will make a change, but already he is showing very aggressive policies in Afghanistan."

As the presidents motorcade made its way from the airport Monday, curious onlookers appeared intermittently along the route. A few flashed peace signs, but most watched in silence. The scenes were similar as the presidential convoy made its way through the city, shuttling Obama from his luxury hotel near Red Square to meetings.

Emerging from a subway station near the Kremlin hours before Obama was to meet with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, Vladimir Pantykhin, a 53-year-old who works in real estate, seemed unimpressed. "Maybe he will bring something new," he said between drags on a cigarette. "Better or worse than [President George W.] Bush, we can't say. He is just a different man."

That type of skepticism is apparently common in Russia, where public opinion polls have found that both Obama and the United States are deeply distrusted.

A poll released this week by WorldPublicOpinion.org, a research consortium, found that only 15 percent of Russians surveyed view the United States as playing a positive role in the world, while just 23 percent believe that Obama will do the right thing when it comes to international affairs. Only 12 percent said the United States treats Russia fairly, while three in four said the United States abuses its power to bend Russia to its will.

In a survey conducted by the Russian Public Opinion Research Center, more than one in three Russians expressed indifference to Obama, while just one in five said they were hopeful about his leadership.

For Obama, those attitudes create another hurdle as he attempts to shed old suspicions and "reset" relations with Russia to emphasize the two countries mutual interests.

That effort is already fraught as Russia and the United States, while agreeing on some issues, have sharply disagreed on others, including U.S. plans for a missile defense shield in Europe and Russia's stance toward Ukraine and Georgia.

Obama said he has been trying to alter the tone of U.S. foreign policy to make it easier for countries to focus on their common interests with the United States. But that task is much easier, he said, when the United States is viewed favorably.

"The world leaders are like politicians everywhere, and they're reading the polls," Obama said in an interview Wednesday with ABC News' Jake Tapper. "They find out that their population, 45 percent of or 30 percent approve of America and 70 percent disapprove, that is a strong disincentive to want to work with us."

Such attitudes are remnants of the Cold War, analysts say. Anna Kachkayeva, who monitors media coverage for Radio Liberty in Moscow, called them a response to skewed images of the United States that she said are common in Russian media.

"The media formed a hostile image of the United States as a nuclear superpower that wanted to be the leader in the world, and another strong power like the Soviet Union was not in its interests," she said. "This image is very deep in people's minds, and it is very easy to maintain it within Russian people -- you can see it in all kinds of political talk shows on federal channels and in news pieces."

Others say the elements of Obama's political rise that inspire people in many corners of the world -- the fact that he is the first black U.S. president, and what that says about evolving attitudes in the United States -- are less powerful in Russia.

Not only is there a stubborn undercurrent of racial and ethnic animus here, analysts say, but there is also deep cynicism about democracy.

"Intolerance is still part of Russia's political culture," said Boris Makarenko, chairman of the board of the Center for Political Technologies, a Moscow think tank. "It expands from black people to the Roma, to people from Central Asia. There is no notion of political correctness in this society."

Even some here who find Obama's tone refreshing wonder whether he will follow through with action.

"The president of such a big country stands for the interests of his country," said Elena Golovko, 47, an education project manager. "You should judge a president by his deeds. With Obama, everybody is waiting."

[Moscovites]

I've got so much LOL of reading all these comments and article itself.
Guys, comrades (:-)) - Let me as a bloody communist, who hate freedom and americans and everything exept drinking vodka, oil trading and doing all the bad things you can ever imagine tell you few thing about Moscovites - we dont give a ... well we don't really care about politicians there . Ok, Obama came to Moscow...so what? Is that a first time when American president came to Russia? Or may be your politicians thinks that its so big present to Russians that they can see American president? Are you serious? wake up!

By the way there was a lot coverage of his trip here on major tv channels.
How you visualise it ? "Breaking news!!!! Barak Obama in few minutes is expecting to leave Medvedev and on its way to Putin! right now he is following down to his car. O, O he is already in few meters from his car...etc. "

Btw - that woman told the most important thing: Let him do something important first and then we will praise him.Where are the results of that meetings?

So making any conclucions about attitude of Russians to Americans because they were indifferent to American president is at least ridiculous. And all this staff about rasism...don't be crazy guys.

And the last words: use you democratic rights - read different media before come to any conlusions.

[enraiha]

Nice job, guys. I'm really proud of you. Just continue to watch TV, "special news", eat popcorn and bigmacz. Just be useful for "Star power" .. otherwise you'll be thrown away like useless junk. Play your role and be silent.

[NYCFalcon]

What I want to know is why are the Obama haters praising Russia/Putin. This is the same country who is in bed with Hugo Chavez, Mahmoud Ahmadinajad and Kim Jong Il. And was a dear friend of Milosovic. Are you guys so anti-American Values simply because a Black man is the President?

[stn_sage]

First, I wouldn't worry about getting a big, warm, friendly reception from 'Mother Russia'! If you did, you could assume it was arraigned by the host!

Second, but what I don't like is President Obama's poll statement! He implies most, if not all, world leaders are the same, and focus on polls!
And if the peoples of a given nation don't like the U.S. or by extension, the president; then the leader of that country won't 'deal' with US!

I have two comments regarding this! First, this is an overly naive and false assumption to make; I find it difficult that he would make it!
Second, he's absolutely wrong about this! I'd suggest just the opposite!
Most heads-of-state could care less how their public views us!

IF they need a jet, a tank, foreign aid, or something else, and we're willing to give it to them, they've not going to say, 'I can't to that because 70% of my countrymen don't like you'!

Now, having said the former, I still believe it is possible to establish good relations with Medevev (Putin), if he starts getting good advice
from the State Department or starts taking it where he finds it!

[mooksie1]

Obama's star power is apparently on the vane overseas, and according to recent polls he is fading fast in the USA as well. He is not what he cracked himself up to be and people are finally taking notice. It is about time. The man is arrogant enough to think that he can take the country down his socialist paths without people even noticing. Well, they are begining to notice, and the picture is not pretty!

[stn_sage]

While the picture of Mr. Obama is NOT as bleak as you paint it, mooksie1; you have a good point!

From time to time, he demonstrates that 'Bush arrogance' that people dislike so much! It didn't work for Bush, and it won't work for him, either!

Maybe a couple of 'setbacks' both at home and abroad would be a good thing for him--- though, probably not for us (the public)!

His ego needs to come back down to Earth with the rest of us!
He needs to remember you lead by commanding respect, you don't gain that respect, by appearing to be on 'ego trips'!

The public has lent him their support, but that will change, if he doesn't start working more (getting the job done) and flaunting his ego less!

[enraiha]

john, in which century do you living now? 19th? Oh yes, one more thing, i will tell you the truth: Here are bears walking (and they're can talk!) on the streets. Whole nation is drunken away..totally. Here is very cold: -273C but we're still alive <3.

But really, we've missed you in 40-44s..where have you been, dude?

[whitemale08]

The world is increasingly becoming disapointed in Obama because they all thought, including myself, that Obama would save America and civilization from the BIG FAILED BANKS that have plagued the world with 1.4 quadrillion in worthless structured-financed krap derivatives and credit-default swaps.

Obama turned out to be a Star Search candidated who one the big prize and has now become a main pitchman for BIG FAILED ZOMBIE BANK bailouts for Goldman Sucks and JP Morgan.

Obama now once the world to pay the bankers off with MASSIVE MASSIVE AUSTERITY in their standard of living under the umbrella of GLOBAL WARMERS!

WHAT AN IMPOSTER AND A FRAUD THIS GUY IS!!!

[tautomer]

The rest of the world is abandoning Socialism like the plague. Meanwhile, Obama is running us headlong into it.

It's sad to see Obama's cronies at Halliburton, Chevron and Shell pushing him into his ill-advised AfPakistan Oil War, even as he destroys the US auto and banking industries. Obama spends almost 10 times as much on his Military Killing Machine as Russia does on theirs and almost 6 times as much as China spends on theirs.

Obama is a bloodthirsty warmonger, a puppet of big corporations.

[noloyalisti]

Of course the rest of the world could do what we have done. Let big corporations own and run the media and the government. Then there are the frightened little sheeple good Germans embracing fascism. And extolling the virtues of invasions for oil and corporate welfare. No government protection for the people like in Canada, France, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Austria, Germany, Spain, England.

[gravyboat4000]

You are confused, on SO many different levels.

Promise me that you'll keep taking your meds, PLEASE!

[beaumuff]

Wonder if they took grandma along on this vacation?

[drsuz]

I was wondering the same thing...The Obama's must think that his term as President is one big holiday. No wonder he is accomplishing nothing. How many times did you hear of 'Slick Willy' taking Chelsea when Bill attended meetings overseas. Or how many times did Ole Georgie take Jenna & Barara with him when he went?

[beaumuff]

Don't like to read and surly don't want to read about somebody elses econmic problems. We have more than we can handle right here.

[noloyalisti]

What we need is cooperation and involvement with other countries. We cannot continue our policies of endless war and American global hegemony. Everyone already hates the right wing corporate bullies known as the US. Time to become a good world player.

[beaumuff]

I think the US has done enough for the world, time to start getting some back.

[YuSoWrong]

Read "Economics in One Lesson" by Henry Hazlitt, and get back to us.

[noloyalisti]

What have we done for the world lately? We are performing or financing wars for oil and land in Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Palestine. We have not slowed our big corporations from global economic control and mayhem. The corporation run government is still working to overthrow democratically elected governments and do right wing military coups. Shame on U.S.

[YuSoWrong]

I blame the US educational system for producing sycophants for the world's dictators. They have a delusional belief that they are moral when in fact they are sweetly retarded.

[Joe_NY_15]

Basically, they laughed the basketball (azzkissball) player right out of red-square.

[noloyalisti]

I would be suspicious, this guy is a darn American after all. We are running 4 wars for our big corporations. We consume as much as we want, have a corrupt corporate run media and government and don't give a hoot about our poor and middle class. The whole world id afraid of America with great reason.

[YuSoWrong]

Flee this American hell-hole while the sunny skies of Moscow are still available.

[GiveMeFreedom]

I am willing to purchase you a one-way ticket to Moscow, but only economy class as I would hate to put you in first class with the people you seemingly hate so much. When do you want to leave?

[earth562]

Nolo,

If you actually did some actual reading of world history and left your room for a day or two and out of the country then you might not sound as stupid as you do.

Some day you might grow up

[toldyouso29]

"Such attitudes are remnants of the Cold War, analysts say. Anna Kachkayeva, who monitors media coverage for Radio Liberty in Moscow, called them a response to skewed images of the United States that she said are common in Russian media.

"The media formed a hostile image of the United States as a nuclear superpower that wanted to be the leader in the world, and another strong power like the Soviet Union was not in its interests," she said. "This image is very deep in people's minds, and it is very easy to maintain it within Russian people -- you can see it in all kinds of political talk shows on federal channels and in news pieces."

It could be... that setting up a missle defense system that could be also pointed at Russia in their own back yard despite their protests and disregarding the enormous disrespect and alarm such an idea would be to the citizens of that country might have a lot to do with the mistrust and anger of the Russians.

After all, given our lies and attitudes to torture, and illegal invasions of Iraq...our delivering cluster bombs to Israel to be used on civilians in Lebanon...our use of WP (like Saddam did to the Kurds) to be used on civilians in Fallujah in 2004....our lies to justify actions and our bestowing domestic immunity for war crimes on Bush and others...our widespread use of mercenaries in the war on terror, our bombing of our allies in Pakistan and our defending Israel's bombings of red cross workers..who could blame Russians for not trusting either our motives, tactics or actions when we decide to play politics in Georgia and to put missles in Poland and say "..but it's not for you" Who in this world believes that spiel?

Why should they skin and grin for Obama if his goal is to continue the bs of Bush?

[earth562]

Toldyouso

Youve been reading the same one sided liberal MSM BS.

You blame Israel as an example but conveniently omit WHY they bombed. Who shot first ? Care to answer correctly ?

Red Cross workers ? You mean the ones siding and aiding with the side that was the agressor ?

Do some research before spouting the same blithering accusations based on propoganda.

[tautomer]

The Russians have every reason to be suspicious and skeptical of Obama. We are too!

Russia has come a long way towards capitalism, they don't want a Socialist like Obama undoing that.

[noloyalisti]

OMG Socialism, Oh no, money for the poor and middle class instead of the aristocratic corporate elite who own our government.

I got a good idea, let's have another tea bag orgy and protest some of the lowest taxes in the world. And support big corporation fascism.

[rlsutter]

Nonloyalisti - You are the poster child for the dangers of socialism. "Money for the poor and middle class..." Where do you think that money comes from, the dollar bill fairy? It comes from corporations.

[earth562]

noloyalisti

When you add up ALL your taxes that you pay in the course of the year its over 50%............Federal income tax, State Income tax,city sewer and property taxes, sales taxes, car registration and taxes, Tolls, BS traffic tickets, etc etc etc

In merry old England that was called serfdom when the king took 90% of what you sweated for and you were supposed to be happy with 10%.

Its getting there

Buy yourself a book called "The Road to Serfdom"

[NYCFalcon]

Which Russia are you talking about? Do some research. Their capitalists are afraid of the State(Putin). He has gobbled up most of "free" enterprises.

[toldyouso29]

"Who is Mr. Obama? Where did he come from?" asked Nikita Ivanov, 21, a law student. "How did he get to power? He says he will make a change, but already he is showing very aggressive policies in Afghanistan."


What an idiotic remark:

1. Russia showed "very aggressive policies in Afghanistan--similar to our policies in Iraq --like preemptive invasion and occupation.

2. The Taliban was and remains in Afghanistan and assumed responsibility for the worst terrorist attack on US soil, their resurgence demands they be routed

3. Obama is not a popularity contestant or a token, he is our defacto head of state and as such reflects and represents the US. The Lukewarm response also reflects the attitude towards America at this point and it is surprising that more countries do not demonstrate similar distrust

4. Given that Russia has become a land of mafioso with Putin in league with them...small wonder they are not enamoured of Obama--I don't think ANYONE should be enamored of him. Until he delivers on the promises that so glibly fell out of his mouth during the campaign and justifies his reneging on others--EVERYONE no matter what race, party, nationality or country should refrain from thinking his mouth is a prayer book and his butt is a bible. There are no halos there...yet.

[YuSoWrong]

Russia is a criminal regime with 14 international borders, many of these shared-with with other criminal regimes and/or violent mystics. Russia's problems are not America's problems, and Russia's solutions to its problems are often brutal and dictatorial in ways that Americans can only imagine. Telling Putin about democracy is like telling a Madam to join a convent. Even if he's listening, it's way too late to turn-back now.

[speakinup22]

Kinda like he's getting here in the US too, huh ?

Check out the WSJ's Poll numbers for Barry.

He's slip slidin' away.

Maybe he should consider resigning like Palin ?

At least she resigned when she felt she was ineffective (due to frivilous law suits.)

The only thing I recollect him being effective on was getting the word out on being a good father. Kinda what I'd expect from a community organizer.