Phillip “Sonny” Bono, Australia’s Peter Garrett and Brazil’s Gilberto Gil are just a few musicians who successfully made the transition to official government positions. Yet, former Fugee member Wyclef Jean’s may have garnered the most media coverage, since Jean had no prior political experience. While promoting a new EP entitled If I Were President: My Haitian Experience, Jean talked with The Guardian about what fueled his decision to enter the political arena.
“After the earthquake I was like, I have to do something different for this country,” Jean explained. “I said, ‘I can’t just keep singing.’ I felt that, if I ran for president, there would be too many eyes on the country for even the most corrupt to break the law. And in that aspect, I was wrong, because I got kicked out of the race before even running.”
In late August, Haiti’s electoral council deemed Wyclef ineligible to run for President, effectively ending his run. The council’s ruling was based on a statute that requires presidential candidates to spend five years as a Haitian resident before the election. Jean lived in Haiti until the age of nine, but has spent the majority of his life in America.
“The law doesn’t say you have to sit there in the country for five years,” he added. “In that case, 90% of the parliament would have to be ousted.”
In addition to receiving death threats, Jean said he was set up by departing Haitian President René Préval and the electoral council. Wyclef believes Préval had him declared ineligible by the council in order to aid Préval’s favored successor, Jude Célestin.
In hindsight, Jean said his failed bid was a success on many fronts. After a few weeks sniping back and forth at each other, Jean and actor Sean Penn reconciled, and both are continuing their aid efforts in the wake of Haiti’s massive earthquake. The election kept Haiti in the news for months, and it also served as a form of publicity for Wyclef.
“The vibe you get from Bob Marley or Fela Kuti, that’s the kind of legacy I want to leave.”
New World Order take over is what that is. It’s a shame, Wyclef probably would have done alot of good for Haiti and possibly the world. He know’s the deal he know’s the whole world is curupt and thats why he got those death threats cause they knew he was a liability they saw him as a threat and made sure he didnt win. And its sad because they actaully turned him down cause he has to be a resident for 5 years. Well why didnt they ask Obama for his birth certificate. He wasnt even born in the US and they let him be president thats against the law so why is he in office. Shit is more currupt then we know and its getting worse everyday.
you sir are fuckin retarded. an absolutely dangerously ignorant moron. here is a short list of reasons:
1. you support wyqueef. what the fuck is that all about?? are you fuckin slow in the brain?
2. one your anti- obama dickriding. he’s not the best, but i will not stand by and let false accusations fly. he was born in hawaii. i did not know that was not a part of the nation you fucking tool. you are just a moron. he is absolutely a resident of the united states, you don’t know what you’re talking about so sit the fuck down and shut the fuck up.
3. you support wyqueef and wave your fist at obama?? what the fuck is that are you some kind of self righteous pig headed idiot. fake ass uncle tom negro salivating at the sight of white skin.
you are a retard sir. fuck king nick. and a big fuck you to the 305
You know what else has layers? cake has layers,everyone loves cake.
DARKNESSSS F*** YO COUCH
I think Obama is the worst president ever but I know for a fact he’s an american.
easiest way to make yourself look like an idiot is to either mention a new world order or illuminati in the first line of your post.
we already knew your pussy ass was rocked off them death threats. we heard this before wyqueef. whoever buys if i were president…. is a fake fuckin clown. this guy and his music lick ass.
“The vibe you get from Bob Marley or Fela Kuti, that’s the kind of legacy i want to leave.” serious with that???? wow, just gross. i hope he gets slain down in haiti
and all the death threats were from Lauryn Hill
it prolly had nothing to do with politics, the were just mad about how weak the carnival II was.
Aristide is the true leader of haiti. Wyclef is a puppet just like obama. 5 families control haiti.
Well said
if i was president, id get elected on fridaayy.. assasinated on saturdayyy, and buried on sundaaayy.
it’s alright clef..they don’t wanna kill you cause you want to be president..they wanna kill you cause your music sucks and you’re pushing ritz crackers in commercials you idiot…