Wyclef Jean for President

[bunburyist]

article

Interesting. Also in the kind of place where he's got a decent shot at it.

He's already referring to himself in the third person, always an encouraging sign for politicians.

[Ben]

He's better watch he doesn't catch a bullet in his bubble goose.

[ammarhaider01]

Maybe he's planning a remake of the circa 1990 song called "I've got the Power" and just wants to add some credibility to the song

[winelover]

Contrary to the media reports saying that he does not have the right experience to run for President of Haiti, I beg to differ. W. Jean has already made a big success in the Refugee Camp (aka fugees) and since Haiti is just one big refugee camp he ought to be able to put his experience to good use .

One time!

[jawofboston]

Poor Haiti. I've heard it said that the Dominican Republic got all the short stops and the Haitians got all the cholera. Too true. The last thing they need is a celebrity as a President.

[audio1der]

You don't think "Wyclef-onomics" modeled after Reagonomics would help?

[jawofboston]

You don't think "Wyclef-onomics" modeled after Reagonomics would help?

Uh, no, I don't think that would help

What they really need is a public health expert who also has a PhD in hydroengineering.

[MontrealRon]

What they really need is to clean out all the old guard who have vested interests in maintaining things as they were/are, and elect someone who is open to the wider world, a good communicator, who will be able to mobilise and inspire the population, work well with other governments, donors and NGOs, and keep the country on the international radar. An ex-pat, familiar with his country of origin, yet able to examine it from a distance as well, without local political debts, would have definite advantages.

Wyclef Jean might be an inspired choice.

Entertainers have great influence these days, for better or worse.

They have privileged access to media, and doors are easily opened for them,

even at the highest levels.

Look at what Bono and Geldof have been able to do.

As for "a public health expert who also has a PhD in hydroengineering",

a good leader needs to know how to access professional and technical people,

and to put their various skills to bear on the problems at hand.

[Habanos2000]

Funny how actors and musicians think they can be effective in roles that require real experience just because they have fans that follow them around.

Haiti needs a lot of things, the last one being a musician as their president.

[JasonInChiTown]

May God have mercy on that country if he is elected

[jawofboston]

What they really need is to clean out all the old guard who have vested interests in maintaining things as they were/are, and elect someone who is open to the wider world, a good communicator, who will be able to mobilise and inspire the population, work well with other governments, donors and NGOs, and keep the country on the international radar. An ex-pat, familiar with his country of origin, yet able to examine it from a distance as well, without local political debts, would have definite advantages.

Wyclef Jean might be an inspired choice.

Entertainers have great influence these days, for better or worse.

They have privileged access to media, and doors are easily opened for them,

even at the highest levels.

Look at what Bono and Geldof have been able to do.

As for "a public health expert who also has a PhD in hydroengineering",

a good leader needs to know how to access professional and technical people,

and to put their various skills to bear on the problems at hand.

While I agree a good leader needs to draw on the knowledge of experts, I think it's pretty dangerous to put the fate of an impoverished country into the hands of someone with no known useful skills in management, law, economics, or engineering. I don't think the Haitians can afford to take another gamble. If this gentleman wants to help Haiti he should continue to raise money for development there.

[MontrealRon]

Funny how actors and musicians think they can be effective in roles that require real experience just because they have fans that follow them around.

Haiti needs a lot of things, the last one being a musician as their president.

I am old enough to recall an actor being elected president of the United States...

[MontrealRon]

While I agree a good leader needs to draw on the knowledge of experts, I think it's pretty dangerous to put the fate of an impoverished country into the hands of someone with no known useful skills in management, law, economics, or engineering. I don't think the Haitians can afford to take another gamble. If this gentleman wants to help Haiti he should continue to raise money for development there.

Haitians cannot afford to gamble on more of the same old, tired political hacks that have plagued their country for years. They need someone from outside of the tiny mulatto elite that controls most of the economy and all of the politics. I'm not saying that Wyclef is the answer; any young, educated worldly person would be better than another corrupt old pol.

[jamie140]

Funny how actors and musicians think they can be effective in roles that require real experience just because they have fans that follow them around.

Haiti needs a lot of things, the last one being a corrupt musician as their president.

Fixed!

[jawofboston]

I am old enough to recall an actor being elected president of the United States...

Although that whole "governor of California" thing sort of came in between...

[MontrealRon]

Although that whole "governor of California" thing sort of came in between...

While California may be only a state, it is still a way bigger political entity than tiny Haiti.

And now they've got another actor...

[rdb6]

Wyclef should stick to what he does best. What exactly does he do best? Haiti needs a political leader not some harmony.