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Wyclef Jean

Wyclef Jean

Posted: August 20, 2010 11:22 PM

Keep The Faith

What's Your Reaction:

It is with a heavy heart that I tell you today that the board of elections in Haiti has disqualified me from my run for the presidency of the country. Though I disagree with the ruling, I respectfully accept the committee's final decision, and I urge my supporters to do the same. We must all honor the memories of those we've lost -- whether in the earthquake, or at anytime -- by responding peacefully and responsibly to this disappointment.

I was inspired to run for president because I know Haiti can become great with the right leadership, and I believe I could be that leader; but, ultimately, we must respect the rule of law in order for our island to become the great nation we all aspire for it to be.

I want to assure my countrymen that I will continue to work for Haiti's renewal; though the board has determined that I am not a resident of Haiti, home is where the heart is -- and my heart has and will always be in Haiti. This ruling just tells me that I can't officially seek the office of president. More importantly, there is no one who can tell me to stop my work in Haiti, and there is no one who could. I think of my daughter, Angelina, and it makes me want to redouble my efforts to help give all the children in Haiti better days.

I also want to honor the memory of my father, a minister; I know that he would tell me that even though I've faced a setback, I must continue in all my good-faith efforts to help Haiti turn a corner to a better and brighter future. Do not think that my role in the future of Haiti is over; it's just a different role than I had anticipated it to be.

Rest assured, this isn't the end of my efforts to help improve my beloved country but only marks a new beginning.

Signed, Wyclef Jean

 
 
 
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HoosierRadical
History is a relay of revolutions.
09:26 PM on 08/22/2010
Yeah right Wyclef! Get your own financial house in order before trying to run office, the people of Haiti deserved better.
05:05 PM on 08/22/2010
That´s good news. Please stay away from the NGO´s, the vulnerable, the people who are trying to recover from the disaster. Keep your hands of Haiti´s money. If you can´t do any good don´t do (at least try not to) any harm.
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cjgnew
05:44 PM on 08/23/2010
We're still not out of the woods yet. Is any other candidate better? I'm looking into that. Anyone with information about the other candidates, please come forward.
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75thRanger
Though I Be The Lone Survivor
04:12 PM on 08/22/2010
Let the censoring begin.....good grief!

“Sua Sponte”

1917, 1928, 1952, 1990
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HUFFPOST COMMUNITY MODERATOR
Weirdwriter
02:34 PM on 08/22/2010
Sir, I respect your sincere desire to make a positive difference for your country. But as an individual with access to media and world attention, you are far more valuable. Political office would require years of slog to get you ready for such duties, and restrict you mightily as to what you can say and do.

Don't give up.
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Deus Angelus
01:02 PM on 08/22/2010
You can google all you want but very few of you understand the true history of Haiti. What no one tells you is what France and the US did to Haiti economically by placing trade restrictions on that country. None of the ruling elites could stand that fact that you had a black republic with so much wealth. They knew they couldn't get in so they destroyed Haiti's ability to trade globally forcing Haiti to bend to their demands. That is fact, so stop blaming the Haitian people for the state of their country and blame the true culprits behind it.
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75thRanger
Though I Be The Lone Survivor
04:12 PM on 08/22/2010
Is everything our fault? I mean really. Haiti is a cesspool.

“Sua Sponte”

1917, 1928, 1952, 1990
O Really
What say You
05:41 PM on 08/22/2010
That is not his point. Terms like "cesspool", "impoverished", and any number of disparaging adjectives fail to describe the historical narrative of cause and effect for Haiti's misery.
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HoosierRadical
History is a relay of revolutions.
09:27 PM on 08/22/2010
Educate yourself and learn the truth about American foreign policy.
guajiro
posted 5 minutes ago
05:48 PM on 08/22/2010
If i remember correctly Haiti was one of the first and only countries where the slaves gained their freedom by revolting against the established ruling class. It is a beautiful history, and yes I can see where the ruling elite would cut off their noses to spite their face.
11:46 AM on 08/22/2010
piti piti o zwazi fe niche. it's good you can't be president. you should just focus on doing good things with a small NGO first. if you can manage that properly, you can do enough good without needing political power.
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twiittersweet
Cloud Computing Expert, Speaker and Trainer
07:55 AM on 08/22/2010
With $2Billion at stake, hope of a once glorious Haiti run by Haitians is unlikely. Aristide found that out! Unless, disenfranchised, highly educated, talented, trained, gifted, brilliant and committed African Americans, who seek a place of their own, relocate to Haiti; a Marcus Garvey like call to action! Continue to watch Haiti, South America and African countries! Things are about to change. Don't get it twisted. All the Europeans will not ride a noah's ark boat, while the rest of the billions of people drown in tsunami floods, and end up in Africa (2012)!
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Joseph Furtenbacher
No one you know...
03:48 AM on 08/22/2010
An interesting article from Executive Intelligence Review,

France's Jacques Cheminade: Why I Am Running for President

http://www.larouchepub.com/other/interviews/2010/3730jacques_why_president.html

Also,

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1465887868&v=app_8826748878
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Soulcatcher
Soulcatcher
12:03 AM on 08/22/2010
With all due respect, Haiti doesn't seem to me like the best place to have faith in.
I hope they can improve things with the vigor and completeness they have messed them up with.
10:10 PM on 08/21/2010
If you are genuine, you should move back to Haiti and spend the next five years working on the ground to improve things.

You'd then meet the residency requirements, and also have spent five years building a base of people who trust you who would help you run a race for office.

At this point, you seem a dilettante who'd like to take the office without doing the work. Do the work, earn the chance to win the office.
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Emma Asomba
10:20 PM on 08/21/2010
I hope he gets your message loud and clear.
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David Rozgonyi
Writer and traveler
06:34 AM on 08/22/2010
ha ha, i was going to type the same thing!
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dukesman2000
We have guided missiles and misguided men
08:40 PM on 08/21/2010
Wyclef, though I admire your aspirations to be the president of your country, I didn't think that would have been the best for the country. Frankly, being the president of a country, isn't something you "try your hand at." I think, without any political experience, this would have been an uphill task for you and your administration.
07:41 PM on 08/21/2010
Wyclef: I'm sure you have nothing but the best intentions for your country, but as far as I know you have never held any political office, expecting to start a political career as president is not practiical for you or Haiti. You'll be in way over your head, and the people will likely suffer. Start smaller, a mayor maybe. I respect what you're trying to do, you could just live the good life, but instead are taking financial and personal risks to help Haiti. Best of luck.
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cjgnew
08:00 PM on 08/21/2010
Your comment makes a lot of sense!
This user has chosen to opt out of the Badges program
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06:01 PM on 08/21/2010
Mr. Jean you've been robbed. You would have been the next President of Haiti. Every American born in America has the right to become President regardless of how many years they have lived outside of the United States.

Haiti is a failed state - because Haiti has a flawed constitution (google Haitian constitution in English).

The Haitian constitution states that the government of Haiti owns the beachrights to the ocean and every river and lake. That's why there are 500 miles of undeveloped oceanfront property in Haiti.

The Haitian constitution states that no foreigner can rent property, no foreigner can own more than two apartments.

The Haitian constitution states that the government owns all of the mineral rights of all private property in Haiti.

All the Billions being sent to Haiti will be spent - and 5 years from know Haiti will still be a failed state because Haiti has a flawed constitution.
07:17 PM on 08/21/2010
While you're googling the haitian constitution you should probably take the time to read the requirements for becoming president.
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Takebackourmoney
07:30 PM on 08/21/2010
I am glad that Haiti owns the beach and oceanfront properties. On many other Islands, big foreign corporation have bought out beachfront properties and do not allow the people on the islands to use the beach. Imagine a situation where you can't go to the beach because all the big hotels own the beach. Every countries constitution can take finetuning but to say Haitian Constitution is flawed is a big yarn. There was every need to write the constitution to protect the people at the time. You should read the history of the country. Haiti is a failed state because of all the meddling by various governments including the US. Haiti was once a very prosperous island. It was revenge for wanting their freedom that the world heaped on them.
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dim
one in a can
07:44 PM on 08/21/2010
You can't blame everything on foreigners. Haitians cut down *all* their trees by themselves, leading to soil erosion and flooding.
05:57 PM on 08/21/2010
Wyclef Jean should realize that being the President would work to the disadvantage of helping his homeland. Perhaps Mr. Jean should consider his potentials as counsel to the Haiti President. In such capacity Mr. Jean could present a 2-part plan that would provide a clear and distinct organized command, strategy, and targeted objectives. The second part of his proposed plan would detail the operations target that would include the deployment and resourcing of all executive and administrative targets. The people of Haiti, including the Haiti President, need such plan and a trusted member of their own community to lead such a project. Should such 100 year plan be sought; I would commit (upon acceptance) my advanced information technology to the people of Haiti for the distinct purpose of civilization progression. Such would include software systems for executive and administrative functioning for open governance, economic, education, healthcare, and enterprise systems to mention the basics. Website - http://www.web3.ez1020.com/
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cjgnew
08:28 PM on 08/21/2010
Mr. Short--

On behalf of the Haitian people, I thank you for such a generous offer. I don't know if Mr. Jean will have a chance to read this, but I hope he will consider it. We need all the help that we can get.

cjg
11:31 PM on 08/21/2010
Cjg: thank you for the encouragement. There is no expression under the Sun that I may extend to the people of Haiti in their many ongoing hours of overwhelming strife. Then again, it is not the time for half measures and empty words but rather the surmounting of obstacles. Should the commitment be required I will not fail the people of Haiti.
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Tulka2
Solidarity. Courage. Humor.
05:27 PM on 08/21/2010
Until i read this, Jean Wyclef, i didn't think you were qualified intellectually. Now i see i was wrong.
06:01 PM on 08/21/2010
Tulka...Now I think you are funny....lol
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cjgnew
08:41 PM on 08/21/2010
I don't think it's wise to make such a call based on just this article. It would take a lot more investigation to determine that. Thank you for caring, though.

cjg
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Tulka2
Solidarity. Courage. Humor.
08:44 PM on 08/21/2010
Only think i will be encountering him in his enjoyable musical persona from now on. Why be mean?