In a world where being an actor, a rock star, or sex video vixen is sufficient qualification for people to sit up and pay attention to your ideas about how to solve world poverty, it comes as no great shock that Wyclef Jean has decided to run for President of Haiti. Herewith, we attempt two arguments in favor of the former Fugees frontman’s candidacy, and two against.
In Favor:
- Wyclef Jean demonstrated his impressive grasp of global political issues, including consequences of ethnic strife, with his song “A Million Voices.”
- His single “If I was president” shows his understanding of social issues. Plus, the song reveals deeper roots of his interest in the Haitian presidency: it was released in 2008.
Against:
- The scandal over Yéle Haiti, which forced Jean to defend himself tearfully on Oprah, hinted that (at worst) he is capable of misappropriating funds intended for charity, and (at best) he is an incompetent manager with a fuzzy concept of accountability. In either case, the Yéle affair may just hint that he lacks the expertise to run a small NGO, which is rather little compared to a country.
- The “open letter” in the Huffington Post announcing his candidacy explains why he wants to be president, but does not provide much (or, actually, any) info as to why he is qualified to be president. (Even most of us in our high school days applying for jobs like window washers had to say something about our qualifications and previous experience.)
If we are being too tough on you, Mr. Jean, TIME magazine gives you rather more serious consideration here. Also check out their interview with an image consultant on Lindsay Lohan’s impending jail release.
5 Comments
The funniest blog I’ve seen on this Haiti issue so far is
at http://brackenworld.blogspot.com/2010/08/haiti-presidential-campaign.html
I think if someone gives Wyclef a copy of Thomas Sowell’s Basic Economics and a month to read it…. good and interesting things could happen.
The song was available at least in 2004 (not 2008) on the album “Welcome to Haiti: Creole 101.”
I still don’t see the pros…
Great article by Demos Senior Fellow Rich Benjamin on Salon.com:
Why Haiti can’t afford a rap star president.
http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2010/08/10/wyclef_jean_president
This is a bad example for me to make my point – but I’ll make it anyway. I don’t like it when we dismiss “celebrities” as incompetent when it comes to political or humanitarian affairs just because their day job is entertainment. Hopefully, even actors or circus performers are keeping up with the world’s goings on sufficiently enough to be mindful citizens. If one of these people also has an inkling to get involved, I think that’s a good thing, and wearing a lot of eyeliner, being a good rapper, and spending too much on small dogs and handbags does not mean you can’t be interested in politics or good at them.
Again, this is a poor place to make this point as you, Laura, very succinctly demonstrate why we should have serious reservations to Jean’s presidential bid; and I do.
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