Two or three points: 1. President Barack Obama's motorcades in the Washington area are not as big as those of previous Presidents, such as to places like Ben's Chili Bowl, Georgetown and Five Guys Burgers. 2. The Secret Service uses a mixture of public relations and common sense with people. They are nicer than most people realise, often much nicer than the Federal Marshals, DEA or BATF. 3. Moscovites should consider that Washington citizens would accept special restrictions if President Medvedev visited the United States. 4. I believe that President Obama's popularity was due to 8 years of George Bush and John Mc Cain as the Republican candidate in 2008. Change is an easy word to say, but often hard to do and accept!!!

What else can be said? The main factor here is Russia's well known and continuing problem of racism. Obama is black, and that's enough to put a Russian away. This is a country, whose majority still hasn't come to terms with the fact that a black man is just like any other person, at least not in their country. We heard a lot of racially motivated comments that were really disturbing from certain Russians just after Obama's election in November last year. So, issues aren't the ones putting Russians off per se here, it's Obama's color. We all know that. We just pray that those with the responsibility to protect him will do their job up to the time he leaves Russia.

Normal to answer you point 3, Moscow traffic is a nightmare!!! Visit and try going by road during work hours in the center. I will see you in the late evening when you finally get out. Add a motorcade and it will be a complete nightmare. It is beyond a inconvenience when there are 11 million people living here. Please don't quote me on this number, it is based off of memory so I could be wrong, but I believe Washington D.C.'s population is around 400,000. That is a big difference. As for Larry's comment about racism. I think that is based on misconception as blacks aren't hated for their color, however all Europeans make note of race, but doesn't necessarily mean they hate. That is true racism. People use racism now without knowing its true meaning. People who don't like Obama don't like him because he is the president of the United States.

Good! I am glad to hear that the Russian People are not interested in this Obama person. They are obviously healthier psychologically and they know a liar when they see one - no matter what the color of the said liar. Anyone who does happen to think that this so called "president" is coming to your country with genuine friendship and "partnership" in mind should think more carefully so that they are disappointed, let down, cheated just as the People of the US are. They are beginning just how foolish they have been and how easily they have duped. But, not to worry - this person, who is not even an American citizen since he was actually born in Kenya and he cannot and will not produce a proper birth certificate - is no match for the leaders of Russia who are decent upstanding men, very superior to him! I hope the Russian people take absolutely NO notice of either him or the circus they will try to make of him and his family. In the West these days the wives and children of politicians are used to manipulate the public, as if they were film stars! It is very undignified and very obvious indeed. It is embarrassing to watch.

I agree Larry. As Obama worshippers, we must scream racism when people do not grovel at the feet of our messiah. We cannot toleratre people who think for themselves. We must show the world how tolerant we are by doing this. As my college professor says:"Race does not exist. So when you don't get your way politically, blame white people."