Wyclef Jean Defends Presidential Bid: Number 1 Qualification Is 'I Am Not A Haitian Politician'

Wyclef Jean is continuing to push back against criticism of his bid to become Haiti's president and allegations that he mismanaged post-quake charity funds, telling NPR in an interview that "the idea of Wyclef being corrupted is a no."

Since announcing his candidacy last week, Jean's decision has been criticized by the likes of actor Sean Penn, who accused the musician of being out of touch with what's going in the country. "I'm very suspicious of it, simply because he, as an ambassador at large, has been virtually silent," Penn said.

Former Fugee Pras also cast doubt on Jean's presidential bid and said he would be supporting his opponent Michel "Sweet Micky" Martelly because he was better prepared to govern Haiti.

Jean responded to both criticisms in the interview, pointing out that he had been in Haiti for the 31 days after last January's devastating earthquake.

With regard to his qualifications to lead the country, Jean told NPR News that first and foremost, "I am not a Haitian politician." He added that, "I think you need a president that's global, that's going to be moving through the globe."

Writing on HuffPost last week, Jean explained at length the motivation behind his presidential run:

I've tried to do the right thing in every part of my life, but especially when it comes to family and to Haiti. Sometimes I've been successful; other times not so much. But for years, I have been trying to help Haiti grow and prosper, and now I think I have the biggest chance I will ever have to make a difference there. I feel my calling is to serve our country in whatever way the people will have me.

Comments

[Nairb50]

01:17 PM on 09/07/2010

You're right!! You are not a Haitian politician­. You're a baffoon with a Ritz cracker commercial­. Now tell me again why that qualifies you to be President of Haiti?

[PaticaDeGato]

08:39 PM on 08/16/2010

Another pearl about this scumb.... er, artist's relationsh­ip with Haiti:

http://www­.thesmokin­ggun.com/b­uster/wycl­ef-jean/ye­s-sir-wycl­ef-jean-tr­ue-man-hai­tian-peopl­e

[atlanta ed]

08:22 AM on 08/13/2010

Hope R. Kelly is named head of children's services in Haiti. No that would be priceless.

[georgieboyme]

01:07 PM on 08/11/2010

America is an Illusion; You need to decide what you want. I did not refuse to answer your question. First you said you don't want to hear what I have to say, then you said that I don't want to answer you. A bit indecisive aren't you. If you really wanted to know why I am against WJ, you could have just read my other posts. Also, in my original post to you, I stated reasons why Wyclef should not be president. But since you seem to want to hear them again, I'll write some of the important ones here for you.

1. He is dishonest. He was found by the IRS to have pocketed donor funds. This is not a hypothetic­al, it is a proven fact. He is now paying back the IRS.
2. He is uneducated­. You compared him to a US president. There has never been a modern US president who did not have a graduate degree from a top US university­.
3. It's going to take a borderline genius to get Haiti out of the mess it's in. WJ is really dumb. He can't even string two sentences together, unless he's coached.
4. He has no savvy. Haiti deserves a president who will not constantly embarrass us around the world like the last one did.
5. (And this is my personal favorite) I believe that Wyclef is backed by the religious right, and that's scarry.

Wyclef may have good intentions­, but he cannot run a country.

[jabreal00]

12:36 PM on 08/11/2010

The best thing about running for Haiti's presidency is that he finally got a decent haircut. He is no less qualified than any other person running for that country's presidency­. "Sweet Micky" is after all a big Haitian musician.

[georgieboyme]

01:07 PM on 08/11/2010

And is also unqualifie­d for the position.

[demsrsilly]

05:17 AM on 08/11/2010

Strange, President Bush in Haiti and nothing on HP about it. Hmmmmm. If billy clinton says the name of the country, there is an article.

[broken frig]

03:40 PM on 08/10/2010

Corporate shill or better known as Wyclef Jean has weak sauce excuse for his defense.
Does the plight of his people ever seep into his conversati­ons?

[procrustes13]

02:01 PM on 08/10/2010

Yvon Neptune should win the election. A bona fide pro-Aristi­de martyr who was put in prison without charges under the coup regime, who served as Aristide's last prime minister.

[berserk]

01:15 PM on 08/10/2010

I have no beef with Wyclef but I really think he is being selfish. Why not use your influence to help a more qualified candidate?

[georgieboyme]

01:08 PM on 08/11/2010

Well said. It take a certain level of really caring for the nation to think that way.

[Diplomacy]

10:03 AM on 08/10/2010

Here's a list of all 34 candidates running for the office of President of Haiti (listed in alphabetic­al order):

http://www­.haitilibr­e.com/arti­cle-875-ha­iti-electi­ons-liste-­des-34-can­didatures-­aux-presid­entielles-­2010.html

[georgieboyme]

01:11 PM on 08/11/2010

Thank you for that list.

[Blaq Ninja]

09:10 AM on 08/10/2010

I guess i'm the first to say this:
WYCLEF WILL WITHDRAW HIS BID FOR PRESIDENT WITHIN 60 DAYS.....w­atch

[Diplomacy]

10:05 AM on 08/10/2010

Wyclef may not even be approved as a candidate by the Provisiona­l Electoral Commission CEP. Wyclef doesn't meet the "Residency­" requiremen­t.

[1110Awaits]

08:46 AM on 08/10/2010

Yeah. You're just a regular dude that can't sing and says he's setting up a charity for the "poor children of Haiti" while skimming off the top. Your integrity is immense. Haiti deserves you.

[NAOMA]

08:33 AM on 08/10/2010

I just got the figure off the internet on his debt:

Wyclef Jean Owes IRS More Than $5 Million -
... Jean actually owes the IRS $5278430 to be exact -- for failing to pay taxes. And, he owes
a jeweler money for a VERY, VERY expensive watch.

[Thornell Johnson]

09:01 AM on 08/10/2010

How much did our present Secretary of Treasury owe the IRS in back taxes when he was nominated to his current post? Get back with us on that figure please. Thanks

[NAOMA]

09:58 AM on 08/10/2010

Always happy to respond. I tried to copy the internet site on this but was unable to.
Sorry. It was $32,000 (or so) but no one seemed to care. Part of it was for
hiring an illegal housekeepe­r. Ho Hum. Politics as usual. Jean apparently does not
speak Creole or French, the languages of the land. I have been to Haiti for 24 hours
years ago and could hardly wait to leave because it was a scary and dangerous
place. I was told to pick someone to be my "guard" as I walked around and I did. He was just a teen, but with him at my side I was never bothered.

[NAOMA]

08:30 AM on 08/10/2010

He is so in debt. MILLIONS. When will he pay his bills? But, then, what do you expect
from a political "wannabe." Look it up; it is on the internet!

[hallowellboy]

08:04 AM on 08/10/2010

Jean is no different than the Africans that overpowere­d and sold other Africans to the White slave traders. He laready has a personal history of corruption and tax evasion. Wake up Haiti before it's too late.