At midterm elections Americans usually vote for the opposition, sending the president and the party in power a message about who really is the boss at home and showing the whole world that America is a country of active, independent people who are ready to protest against the authorities at any moment.

This year, rebellious moods were aggravated by the presence of President Barack Obama – a man to whom no one is indifferent – at the helm of the nation and at the head of the ruling political party.  When President Obama took the White House, the political right took him for the devil incarnate, whereas political leftists viewed him as a near messiah-like figure, and centrists considered him a politician of a new kind who would be well-suited to finding reasonable and effective means to solving the most difficult problems facing the country.

Since then, of course, the president has disappointed many and has forced many former opponents to change their opinions for the better. Still, the "Obama factor" remained one of the most important and most defining components in the recent election.

The majority of Russian-speaking Americans responded to Barack Obama with opposition. It's possible that it was due to racial prejudice, which, alas, is still a force in our community despite the fact that we were brought up to respect  people of every color of the rainbow. It's also possible that the ultraconservative people who shape opinions among the American Russian-speaking media, simplistically perceiving and interpreting the opinions of their English-speaking colleagues, labeled the president as a Marxist, a Muslim (Barack Hussein), an enemy of Israel and an enemy of the people.

How important was the "Obama factor" for Russian-speaking voters this year? What other factors affected the votes of our Russian-speaking immigrants this midterm election? Who did the "Russians" vote for and why?

We asked these questions to several important figures in our community.

Alec Brook-Krasny, New York State Assembly Member

I think that on a regional level, the majority of Russian-speaking Americans voted for Democrats, but on a state and federal level, the votes were probably divided.  In Brooklyn the majority voted for the Democrats, but in Staten Island, for the Republicans.

On a regional level, the votes of our immigrants were defined, as usual, by the personality of this or that candidate, but on higher levels, they voted based on political views and the party of the candidate. And, I am certain that out of the two candidates for the post of New York State governor, most of "ours" chose Democrat Andrew Cuomo over his opponent, Republican Carl Paladino, who didn't make a point of hiding his desire to cut social programs by 40 percent.

Many Russian-speaking immigrants receive benefits from these programs and there are just as many parents who receive them.

I don't think that the votes of Russians were defined by their prejudiced attitude toward President Obama. It had its silent influence two years ago, but now Russians feel negatively towards the president, not because of the strength of their prejudice, but because he has failed to stir the hopes of Americans and, in particular, because he couldn't solve our problem with unemployment.

Raisa Chernina, president of the Be Proud Foundation

The way Russian-speaking Americans vote is (like with our fellow citizens) dictated by one thing – the wallet. During other times of economic difficulty, I think that the majority of Russians voted for those who want to lower taxes, that is, Republicans. Life gets more expensive every day, but taxes keep increasing.

Ilya Levkov, owner of Liberty Publishing House

Let's begin with the fact that most of the Russians to which we are referring are Jews, but "particular Jews." American Jews typically vote against their own financial interests; these people are secure, representatives of the middle class, who defend the interests of the poor, immigrants, and etc.

Russian-speaking Jews continue to be the exception, voting for their wallets. During the dawn of the mass immigration from the USSR, when many of them were still dependent on social programs, they voted for the Democrats; now, when the number of beneficiaries of social programs in our community is no longer rising, but the number of people entering the middle class is growing, "Russians" are voting for Republicans.

However, during previous elections one other factor influenced the choices of Russian-speaking Americans – their deep distrust of President Obama, resulting, I think, from the prejudices that we brought from our past. On the whole, Russians were more concerned than Americans when Obama took the White House. This wasn't because he's a leftist (for the most part, they are unfamiliar with his platforms and don't know how liberal his views are), but because he is African American. It's possible that, were they to become familiar with his policies, Russians would not change their negative attitude toward the president, but at least then it would be justified.

Ari Kagan, journalist and public figure

I hope that Russian-speaking Americans voted, not based on the principles of the political parties, but for deserving candidates. My vote was determined by three factors: the political views of each candidate, his (or her) attitude toward our community and qualifications. First of all, the candidate must be moderate, a centrist, and neither an ultra-liberal nor an ultra-conservative. Secondly, he has to have a positive attitude toward the Russian-speaking community. Third, the candidate must comply with the duties of the position to which he or she aspires. I would have hoped that the majority of the Russian-speaking Americans share my point of view.

Undoubtedly, a very important factor for all of us is the candidates' attitude toward Israel, and this year, the candidate's stance on whether or not to build an Islamic Center near Ground Zero.

Rimma Kharlamova, COJECO (Council of Jewish Emigre Community Organizations)

The key factor, in my opinion, was the candidate's stance on the construction of a mosque at Ground Zero. This is a fundamental question to which silence is also an answer. As far as I know, among New York politicians only Congressman Michael McMahon and "our" Alec Brook-Krasny officially declare that they are against the construction of the mosque.

Perhaps our politicians support the construction because of tolerance and political-correctness. For Russian-speaking immigrants these "magic words" are practically swearwords – political-correctness is one-sided, and is founded either on white guilt (guilt that white people feel before African Americans) or on what I consider an absolutely mysterious cautiousness regarding Muslims. I absolutely do not mean to say that all Muslims need to be written off as terrorists, but I do believe that a person must disassociate him or herself from those with radical religious divisions. In this case, if Imam Rauf doesn't do so, then politicians shouldn't support his undertakings.

Because our politicians support Rauf, many Russian-speaking voters either voted against them or didn't go out to vote.

Mikhail Buzukavshili, journalist

I don't have any sociological data, but I think that many, if not most, Russian-speaking Americans voted for Republicans.

First of all, this occurred because Republicans very keenly and sharply criticize President Obama and his administration without offering well-founded arguments for solving the nation's most important problems.

Second, Obama inherited from the Republicans a difficult situation – an economic crisis, two wars and etc. And though the president adequately dealt with the situation (his determined economic actions are showing positive trends and the predictions of a depression did not come true), Russian Americans live by the principle: "We want it today; we want it now!"

Lastly, a number of Russian-speaking Americans have an inexplicable antipathy toward the president that, in my opinion, is not based on his political views in any way.

Rabbi Moshe Solovei

I cannot understand by what principles and logic Russian-speaking Americans voted. What the enigmatic Russian soul dictates! I'll be surprised if I find out that most of our community members voted for Democrats – Schumer, Gillibrand, Nadler, Weiner. The opinions of these politicians on the most important questions – from the Iraq war to healthcare reform to gay marriage – coincide with President Obama's, whom Russians consider nearly criminal and an enemy of the people.

But I'll be just as surprised if I find that the majority of "our people" supported the Republicans, whom, as far as I know, promise to make significant cuts to social programs. Among Russian-speaking immigrants there are many people who receive benefits from these programs. And their children, however rich they may be, would be unlikely to celebrate if they were had to support their parents.

Dr. Sam Kliger, director of the American Jewish Committee's Department of Relations with the Russian-speaking Community

I assume that Russian-speaking Americans showed a preference for Republicans – for a number of reasons.

Before the elections, a revolutionary attitude reigned in our community – many believed that a Conservative revolution was on the horizon and that it would be very good for us. First of all, because the majority of Russian-speaking Americans believe that Republicans support Israel to a greater degree than Democrats do. Second, Russian Americans believe that Republicans have a more serious approach toward the economic crisis and will find more effective means of combating it. And finally, the Russian voter has changed. Before, only elderly people voted – that is, people who received benefits from social programs. Now, most of our voters are young people who have become successful in their fields.

Of course, in New York, there are many politicians who are well-known in our community and for whom I am certain Russians voted regardless of their political leanings, among them Alec Brook-Krasny, Jerrold Nadler, and Charles Schumer. I also think that the majority of Russian-speaking New Yorkers voted for Andrew Cuomo. According to many of our people, his opponent, Carl Paladino, was too radical and eccentric.