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http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/americas/08/03/haiti.wyclef.jean.lkl/?hpt=T1


Source: Wyclef Jean to announce he'll run for president of Haiti
By the CNN Wire Staff
August 3, 2010




(CNN) -- Wyclef Jean will announce exclusively on CNN's "Larry King Live" Thursday night that he intends to run for president of Haiti, a source close to the Haitian-American recording artist said Tuesday.

Jean has been an outspoken proponent of Haiti through his Yele Foundation and was one of the first celebrities to offer aid after the devastating earthquake there in January. He told CNN late last month that he has filled out the necessary paperwork to make a run at the country's highest office.

Jean, who was born in Haiti, shot to fame in the mid-1990s as a member of The Fugees, a U.S.-based hip-hop and reggae group. He performs now as a solo artist.

That's a good thing.
Probably get himself killed, but it's good that he's going for it.

Bob Marley could have easily been the Prime Minister of Jamaica. Good for Wyclef. Haiti needs a hero, he's very much loved there, and I'd bet anything he wins the election if he does run.

I'd vote for him..

I wouldn't. He's asking for a political position, if Haiti is ever going to get out of the rut they are in, they need a solid, reliable, honest man for the job, not a passionate and loyal musician..I agree the corruption must go, and perhaps the best tool to get rid of it, is someone so internationally known that they cant assassinate him and hide it, but once he's there, then what? what political experience is he going to dip into to know how to handle foreign policy? How is he going to have a clue, what to do when or how to do it. Theres more to being a president than just public appearances and press conferences , Wyclef for all his good intentions, just lacks the tools for the job. Maybe he could convince the US government to act as a security force to help eliminate the bad elements, and I'm sure he could help with the famine, getting much of hollywood and the music community to help out, but as a president I dont see him being fit for the job.

an Ideal situation is for the US to go wipe out the current corrupted government, something that would take all of a week to accomplish if that, install an honest, experienced president/government, and hire Wyclef on as ambassador, now there is a place he could make a real difference, using his given skill set.

When has HAITI ever had a non-corrupt govt? lol

NEVER

Capt. Scott wrote:When has HAITI ever had a non-corrupt govt? lol

NEVER

true..

I hope for the best for them, it's crazy that the Dominican republic does so well, while just a few miles away, the Haitians deal with filth, both in their environment, and their government.

"Maybe he could convince the US government to act as a security force to help eliminate the bad elements, and I'm sure he could help with the famine, getting much of hollywood and the music community to help out..."

Considering that nation's immediate needs, this is the very best they could ask for, at the moment. Once things get settled down a bit, & they begin rebuilding their infrastructure, then they could get someone with more political savvy. This man's internationally-known persona can do little harm, if he is indeed sincere, & not just another war-lord. AND, he could do much good.

Tronix, everything you said is food for thought, but... That country has suffered for so long, maybe thinking going outside the box, is their best hope for a brighter future? They ousted their colonial rulers, but those power brokers then boycotted Haiti and convinced others not to do business with them. This kept them poor and created a situation where chaos and government changes were rife in society. There have been 32 coups in their 200 year history. That's an average of a FORCED government takeover, every 6 years.

Papa Doc, the dictator that ruled for 14 years, was corrupt, but was personally popular and liked by many in Haiti. Maybe having ANOTHER icon, like Wyclef Jean, would give them a popular figure to rally behind, but one who is also known and appreciated throughout the world as well.

It may be an insurmountable obstacle, particularly in light of the earthquake that devastated the region, but... what other cards are on the table? It's hard to imagine a Wyclef Jean presidency making the country any worse, right?

He may represent a SMALL hope... but in that country... ANY HOPE is better than NO HOPE!

Haiti is Hell on Earth if there ever was one. I don't know if ANY person can be a savior for that place. The one country that could ill afford a devastating quake is Haiti. Makes one wonder if God had something against that country...

fisherman bob wrote: Makes one wonder if God had something against that country...

It could sure seem that way. But then we would have to say that every earthquake, every tornado, every flood, etc... were all God's wrath. The reality is, that "weather is just weather".