Vintage Obama. He doesn't even know how to host a state dinner for a foreign head of state. Reminiscent of the time Obama give the visiting British MP a box of DVDs that won't play on the UK format. I wonder whether Obama afterwards invited Medvedev to play some street basketball with his "bros" on U street. Medvedev looked shocked as Obama stuffed a grease dripping burger in his mouth. That's our precious Obama.

Only President Obama would take the leader of an Orthodox Christian nation who openly practices Orthodoxy Christianity to a hamburger place in the middle of the Apostles fast when Orthodox are only allowed to have fish. Of course President Medvedev ate it. He did not want to insult the President of the USA.

"Burger joint" is the proper term for that greasy hole in the wall. Perhaps next time Obama will take Medvedev out to Taco Bell for a burrito. I doubt Medvedev got dressed in a suit and tie that morning expecting to wipe grease off his chin and hands as he had to at that burger joint. Obama is showing Medvedev that he really is not fit to be the president of the United States of America. Next time Obama is in Moscow, Medvedev should have someone take Obama to a greasy pirogi and pelmeni joint near a Moscow metro entrance.

Its really good to have President Medvedev visiting our country, he seems to be a genuine man. I only hope that this goodwill will continue between our leaders, but more important, between our people; for leaders come and go!. I'm a man of simple means, but one who's had a love for Russian literature. I feel I know the Russian soul more than most of the so-called experts in our State Dept. The only difference between Russians & Americans is their language, other than that we all share in the hope of peace & prosperity for our respective countries, we all share basically the same hopes & dreams, bad times & good, happiness & sorrow, a better world for our children...yes there can be no doubt that we are all fundamentally the same in things of the heart. Peace & goodwill to all Russians! Мира и доброй воли всех русских!

it is amazing and milestone in history. They both young and well connected.

Oh my, a big cheese and jalapeno burger with fries. Did anybody tell President Medvedev that indigestion sometimes comes as a side dish? It is traditional. Fox News quoted Medvedev as saying he was getting a taste of America. We have "Tums" for that, just in case. Good thing he is still young and healthy! :) Welcome to USA, Mr. President. Come back soon! @ Kihnu, I think your suggestion is a good idea for President Obama's next visit to Moscow. Obama likes to go to fast food restaurants and mingles with regular customers. He might actually enjoy pelmeni. It's tasty stuff.

It's up to you Americans to view your president as you wish. But looking at Obama from outside, I am inclined to say, give the guy a break, regarding how he wants to conduct himself amongst friends. Who really cares about the Burger, Medvedev had said he liked the look of this lifestyle, and Obama obliged. Yes criticise Obama on health care, on the Big Polluter spill ... if it doesn't suit you. I am certainly happy to criticise the US on its continual illegal invasions, torture and rape. But who was really affected by Obama giving Medvedev a Burger! Maybe it's me but I can't see why people can't be people, even if they are presidents of their countries. Are we asking for leaders to be close to the people but far away from everyday reality and friendship. For me this is asking for kings and queens, not democratic leaders!

June 25, 2010, 16:18, Dale wrote > Only President Obama would take the leader of an Orthodox Christian nation who openly practices Orthodoxy Christianity to a hamburger place in the middle of the Apostles fast when Orthodox are only allowed to have fish. Of course President Medvedev ate it. He did not want to insult the President of the USA. Hi Dale I am an Orthodox man, and from the food you can eat all meat, fish, anything just at the wrong time of fasting. This is the first time I heard this. =) Catholics differ little from the Orthodox because we are Christians.

Count Cash I think it is fitting the Medvedev got what he wished for: Burger and Coke with President Obama. I think also that this is rather sad. Obama and Medvedev are not "friends" in the real sense of the term; they do not know each other as friends. They are head of states and their duty is to set example for their societies and showcase the best their societies have to offer. Obama received the best of Russian traditional food during his only visit to the Russian capital. Now he is giving the Russian President the best of the American food: Coke, Fries and Burger!

I don't understand the purpose of this greasy burger photo-op. The burger joint was not much of a setting to discuss mutual interests of both countries. Both probably spent their time burping and wiping grease off their fingers, faces and cloths, while their security detail was shooing the fellow diners away. An informal lunch at the White House would have been a much more productive venue to discuss mutual interests. I suppose Obama wanted to impress Medvedev. With what? I don't know.

Rick There are great deal of difference between Russia and the United States. Difference is not a bad thing. Difference can be source of strength and genuine exchanges. Do not think its classy nor it reflects cool informality for President Obama to take the Russian President to a Burger and fries joint! What is wrong with serving the Russian President and his encourage elegant food that is also healthy? Moscow, has 12M people and its largest European capital. It also has many American burger joints so it would have been interesting for the U.S president to off the Russian President food that has its roots in the U.S but which is also symbolic and healthy.

Ok here is how I see it. First of all I want to point out that blaming Obama for the problems left over from Bush is just plain stupid. With that said Obama has always liked to be approachable. He loves going to places like that burger place so he can mingle with real normal people. As far as I'm concerned he was just showing Medvedev his Virginia. Not just DC and the DC the rest of the government wanted him to see but a real place in America with real people. Medvedev looked like he enjoyed it and everyone there were nothing short of respectful to him. So seriously people let it go. Its still not as bad as the nickname Bush gave Putin. So seriously let it go.

Going to a cheap burger joint is what Obama thinks of Medvedev. Don't make the mistake of listening to what Obama says, rather look at what he does.

First of all, no worries about quality of those burgers. I believe, they are way healthier than any food we have at home or in the best restaurants around. Secondly, people really amaze me by their irrational and inconsistent behavior (though, this is not shocking considering our origins). Just recently they demanded the Change. So, they got it. And now, they have problems with those changes which Obama is trying to implement. Including his attempts to break the established by centuries traditions how officials suppose to behave and treat each other. By the way, those traditions were intentionally designed to demonstrate the difference between aristocrats and "small" people. Why those traditions are right and, say, going to the Burger place is not? What the difference it makes as soon as the leaders do their job? Because, you consider it as a "low" place and you feel bad about the Presidents going there? This is very unusual and not customary (read: "not right")? This way Medvedev humiliates Russians whom he represents? Well, he represents me as well. And I don't care. In fact, I am glad, that Obama is trying to reduce the distance between rulers and ruled and drags Medvedev into it. I want Russian leaders leave the Kremlin golden palaces and be among people, feel what Russian feel, live as Russians live. Some have problems that Medvedev is not playing his role properly (weak, soft, too excited, following Obama). What would you prefer -- for him to come in America dressed as a militant and start using his shoe to prove the points he is making? Or keep a face of the angry man,? Which, for some unknown for me reasons in Russia is considered as the face of the real leader.

Hmmm... the american president, acting and doing things like any other normal person... inviting the russian president for a simple meal in a common place... It seems like a great idea, but, if you take a real hard look at it... well, it was... pathetic! Why? Because when Mr. Obama was a guest to the russian president, he was not taken to a cheap fast food restaurant and given a treat. I mean, goodness, have you become so cheap as to take the russian president to a cheap fast food restaurant and treat him with nothing but junk food, poisonous to the body? If I would have been Obama, I would have stopped to the best restaurant where good, nutritious food was served, in a pleasant environment, not a common, crowded place. And the menu was terrible! Real american burgers are nothing but refined carbohidrates from the white bread and proteins from meat... not a good idea as it is taxing the pancreas (the surge of sugar from the white bread), the meat had in it the antibiotics, vaccines, hormones with which the animal was treated while alive. Moreover, meat with bread is an extreme food combination, likely to give you an indigestion... You know the story with the guy who forgot a burger in his Sunday best coat’s pocket, only to find it one year later just as fresh... Imagine that! Duh! Then the French Fries... fried in refined, denaturated, probably cotton seed oil, a major source of arteriosclerosis, obesity, arthritis and ultimately cancer. And the the soda drinks... oh... Honestly, I expected more from the american president. But then again, the vast majority of americans have no idea of these things and they just buy the stuff, eat it no questions asked and then wonder why they are the sickest people in the world... To them it is always a great idea to go to a fast food restaurant. Not so to their parents and grandparents. The big business has brainwashed them so nicely. Have another delicious helping of poisonous, real american burger! Triple yummyyyy!!!

We would love to see more presidents doing that

Obama instructed Medvedev at the burger joint as if he was a child: order this, order that; pointing his finger at Medvedev's face, etc. Perhaps Obama was trying to impress his Chicago pals with the way he pushed Medvedev around in that burger joint. Obama's own generals are laughing and mocking him because of the way he behaves at meeting where he is inattentive and basically unprepared and uninformed. I am sure that Kremlin's profilers of Obama will take into consideration his childlike behavior, and have already identified him as an easy mark for manipulation.

Bogdanov: "In fact, I am glad, that Obama is trying to reduce the distance between rulers and ruled and drags Medvedev into it." If that is the case, then Obama would have listened to the American people and ended the slaughter taking place in Afghanistan/Iraq, and close the Guantanamo prison, as he promised during his campaign. Obama hasn't kept any of the promises he made to the "ruled". Obama spends more time dribbling basketballs, playing golf and eating at greasy burger joints than any of the 20th century American presidents. He could care less what the "ruled" want. Russians have nothing to learn from Obama - except, how to yawn while at meetings with his generals.

Cantemir and Big Business want promote as expensive ipods and burgers and coke to the Russian kids. Who needs healthy food when your leaders deal with greatest problems while eathing junk food. This was not a very good setting and yes, Obama could not have done this to strong leader such as Putin, or even to India [we remember the famous dinner Obama made for the visiting Indian leader not so long ago]. Obama wanted to play Medvedev as a cool burger/coke friend. This is supposed to represent un-threatening "modern" Russia! It seems that the Russians are eager to become "modern". So this is it. This is modernity according the U.S corporate culture.