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Can Wyclef Jean save Haiti?
Los Angeles Times / latimes.com ^ | August 6, 2010 | By Joe Mozingo, Los Angeles Times

Posted on 08/06/2010 7:54:45 AM PDT by thecodont

Reporting from Port-au-Prince, Haiti — Wyclef Jean's candidacy for president of this rubble-strewn country gives a charge of electricity to what so far has been feeble interest in upcoming elections. But the heroic narrative he's pitching — hip-hop superstar returning from America to rescue his homeland — will quickly get battle-tested in the fractious, murky and often violent world of Haitian politics.

Jean's humanitarian organization, Yele Haiti Foundation, and his status as the most famous member of Haiti's diaspora give him immediate prominence. Young people, for the most part, seem to love him.

"Bon bagay," said Saintil Wilson, 22. "Good thing. We need somebody who is younger and stronger and has more power to run Haiti."

Other young men standing nearby in a seaside slum agreed, although Wilbur Alben, 62, building cabinets in the shade, gave a more wizened view. "I don't care," he said. "At this point, give me anything. I'll take it."

When someone mentioned the current President, Rene Preval, Alben swiped his hand as if a fly were bothering him.

What is telling is that this conversation occurred in the Cite Soleil slum, a fulcrum of populist power in the country and a crucial base of support for exiled President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, who still looms large in Haitian politics. Jean had called for Aristide to step down in 2004 — a potentially lethal statement in this part of town — yet he has managed to maintain support there.

(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: haiti; haitielections; wyclefjean
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From the article:

-------

The Haitian Constitution requires candidates be citizens of only Haiti and residents of the country for the last five years. Jean's primary residence is in New Jersey. A nine-member electoral council will decide whether he has spent enough time in Haiti to qualify. In the last election, in 2006, the council rejected the candidacy of Texas businessman Dumarsais Simeus because he is a U.S. citizen.

Aristide's Lavalas party, barred from the election, has jumped on the residency issue and is painting Jean as a puppet of U.S. interests and the business elite.

But on the streets, Jean's story has inspired many youths stuck in poverty.

Jean left his hometown east of Port-au-Prince for Brooklyn when he was 9. He found fame and won a Grammy with the Fugees, and went on to a successful solo career. ---------

Well, at least he was born there.

Did you get the reference to "swatting at a fly"?

1 posted on 08/06/2010 7:54:47 AM PDT by thecodont
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To: thecodont

No one can save Haiti!


2 posted on 08/06/2010 7:56:18 AM PDT by jimmyo57
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To: thecodont

He can’t do any worse.


3 posted on 08/06/2010 7:57:04 AM PDT by dfwgator
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To: thecodont

The number one thing Haiti needs right now is vasectomies — millions of them.


4 posted on 08/06/2010 7:57:31 AM PDT by BenLurkin (Will must be the harder, courage the bolder, spirit must be the more, as our might lessens.)
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To: thecodont

“Can Wyclef Jean save Haiti?”

Only if he’s gone til November.


5 posted on 08/06/2010 7:57:55 AM PDT by Dayman
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To: jimmyo57
"No one can save Haiti!"

You're right. There is nothing to save.

6 posted on 08/06/2010 7:58:14 AM PDT by davisfh
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To: BenLurkin

And rubbers...


7 posted on 08/06/2010 7:59:23 AM PDT by goseminoles
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To: thecodont

Short answer: No.

Long answer: No way.


8 posted on 08/06/2010 8:00:59 AM PDT by martin_fierro (< |:)~)
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To: dfwgator

Kwamee Killpatrick was unavailable but his mother is free.


9 posted on 08/06/2010 8:01:13 AM PDT by cripplecreek (Remember the River Raisin! (look it up))
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To: BenLurkin

It also needs aid to be slowly withdrawn enough to create mild food shortages to help make farming profitable again.


10 posted on 08/06/2010 8:03:03 AM PDT by cripplecreek (Remember the River Raisin! (look it up))
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To: thecodont
"Well, at least he was born there."

I'll bet he even has the documentation to prove it.

11 posted on 08/06/2010 8:03:06 AM PDT by Joe 6-pack (Que me amat, amet et canem meum)
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To: thecodont

I don’t think he can even save himself let alone Haiti.


12 posted on 08/06/2010 8:03:54 AM PDT by Ev Reeman
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To: Joe 6-pack
Jean is a far lefty, so the answer is simple:

No.

13 posted on 08/06/2010 8:05:14 AM PDT by PallMal
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To: thecodont

Sean Penn is not amused.


14 posted on 08/06/2010 8:12:58 AM PDT by Carley (For those who fought for it, freedom has a flavor the protected will never know.)
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To: thecodont

The Haitians will be “Killing Him (Wyclef Jean) Softly With His Songs”

Haiti’s claim to fame is that it is a bigger Latrine-hole than Mexico is


15 posted on 08/06/2010 8:22:26 AM PDT by UCFRoadWarrior (JD for Senate ..... jdforsenate.com. You either voting for JD, or voting for the Liberal...)
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To: thecodont

No.


16 posted on 08/06/2010 8:28:29 AM PDT by flowerplough (Thomas Sowell: Those who look only at Obama's deeds tend to become Obama's critics.)
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To: Carley

Neither is Oliver Stone, Michael Moore, Hugo Chavez, Danny Glover and Harry Belafonte.


17 posted on 08/06/2010 8:35:07 AM PDT by Ev Reeman
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To: Ev Reeman

Well, if bubba can cash in why not this dude.


18 posted on 08/06/2010 8:38:20 AM PDT by Carley (For those who fought for it, freedom has a flavor the protected will never know.)
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To: thecodont

The Haitians need effective property rights, a stable environment and capital. I doubt this guy can accomplish any of them.


19 posted on 08/06/2010 8:59:29 AM PDT by BfloGuy (It is not from the benevolence of the butcher, the brewer, or the baker, that we can expect . . .)
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To: thecodont
In answer to the title of this article, simply "No." Why? Because of the attitude of the voters. From the article:

"Bon bagay," said Saintil Wilson, 22. "Good thing. We need somebody who is younger and stronger and has more power to run Haiti."

It is a serious error in judgment to expect a strong man to run a nation effectively. This has been the basic error that has led Haiti to its current economic state. Observe the economy of any nation run by a strong man, and you will find abject poverty in abundance, right alongside egregious abuses of government power. So, no, Wyclef Jean cannot save Haiti, because its people are still asking for that which destroys them.
20 posted on 08/06/2010 9:06:46 AM PDT by Jagermonster (They will not force us. They will stop degrading us. They will not control us. We will be victorious)
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