The thing you have to remember about France is that the country has a national religion that they guard with pathological zeal. Their religion is radical secularism, which is why they think of themselves as the most tolerant people on the planet yet have no problem outlawing head scarves and burkhas in schools. Even traditionalist Catholic churches operate illegally over there.
This is why they can't stand people like Romney but absolutely love someone like Barack Obama who can pass himself off as absolutely anything on any given day of the week.