Sarkozy elected, Colbert congratulates

So Stephen Colbert may be 3/4 Irish but he still took time out to comment on the French elections because "I don't pronounce the T in my last name."  In a very humorous film noir spoof he congratulated fellow conservative Sarkozy in French (not too bad French, all being said and done, especially since he doesn't speak the language).  It was pretty cute but it did bring up that question in my mind:  how does the French diaspora relate to national goings-on in a country that may be connected to them by family name but not in a real everyday life sort of way?  I have friends of other ethnic backgrounds who have varying affinities for and levels of consciousness regarding the current political climate in their countries of origin.  And this being France, I could cry heigh ho to find another person of French descent to give me their perspective.  Anyone out there?  What are you thinking about all this?