1) It was more that they were glad that Bush was finally out.
2) Most Frenchmen probably didn't care. Just like here, the media and the politically active aren't necessarily a representation of what the average person thinks.
“1) It was more that they were glad that Bush was finally out. 2) Most Frenchmen probably didn’t care.”
Nope. Bush was out no matter who won: they went wild FOR obama! I had one fool from Sweden on some chat board about something or other (unrelated to politics) send me a message congratulating me for electing such an incredible, wonderful, amazing BLACK President! I responded that more people voted against obama than the entire population of Sweden, including me, and I would be very interested in what he though of the son of a bitch by the time obama left office.
I also remember reading MANY national publications from various Western European countries simply going apeshit over Obama being elected. You do remember obama was awarded a Nobel Peace Prize