Susan Boyle Captures Russian Nationalist Hearts

Susan Boyle has charmed millions of viewers on YouTube, and now her fame has captured the hearts of Russian nationalists: A Russian far-right party posted an open letter to British talent show singer Susan Boyle late on Tuesday, heaping praise on the 48-year-old Scot and wishing her well after she was admitted to a clinic ...

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Susan Boyle start of 'Britain's Got Talent' returns to her home in Blackburn, West Lothian on May 8, 2009 in Blackburn in Scotland. The 47 year old is being filmed today for an appearance on the U.S Oprah Winfrey show.

Susan Boyle has charmed millions of viewers on YouTube, and now her fame has captured the hearts of Russian nationalists:

A Russian far-right party posted an open letter to British talent show singer Susan Boyle late on Tuesday, heaping praise on the 48-year-old Scot and wishing her well after she was admitted to a clinic for exhaustion.

“Susan! You have already gained popularity and many admirers and fans,” leader of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDPR), Vladimir Zhirinovsky, said in an open letter on the party’s website www.ldpr.ru.

Andrei Lugovoy, Britain’s main suspect in the London murder of Kremlin critic Alexander Litvinenko, holds a seat in parliament for the ultra-nationalist party which has called on countries belonging to the former Soviet Union to rejoin.

As reality fans know, Boyle did not even finish first on the show, and subsequent reports suggested she is not taking the loss lightly. Zhirinovsky, though, was eager to console her.

LDPR leader Zhirinovsky compared her near-win to that of his own.

“The people also love our party, but, just like you, we do not always get the deserved result at elections,” he said.

LDPR came third in the Russian presidential elections in March 2008, behind the Communist party and the winning United Russia party, which saw Dmitry Medvedev replace Vladimir Putin as president.

No doubt Simon Cowell appreciates the comparison, given the reputation for fair elections his shows currently enjoy.

Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images

James Downie is an editorial researcher at FP.

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