Wyclef: Not presidential material

WHAT WAS Wyclef thinking?

Hatian-American hip-hop star Wyclef Jean made a huge media splash earlier this month when he announced on Larry King Live that he was running for president of his native land, effectively positioning himself as the saviour of that earthquake-ravaged country.

Only one teeny tiny problem: Clef doesn’t meet the requirements for those seeking to become president; namely, candidates must have resided in the country for five consecutive years before the date of the elections – a rule designed to thwart carpetbaggers like Jean.

Apparently Wyclef figured the rules don’t apply to him; that because he has been serving as a goodwill ambassador for Haiti in recent years, he’s as good as legit.

There was another problem with the whole ‘Wyclef for President’ thing. Other than a high profile and some musical talent, the ex-Fugees frontman has little else to offer Haiti, a dirt-poor country he fled when he was a kid. As the Associated Press noted:

“(Jean) had no political organization, not much of a following beyond his fans of his music and only a vague platform, casting himself as an advocate of Haiti’s struggling youth and saying he would ask reconstruction donors to help the country’s dysfunctional education system.”

Oh, and then there’s the whole matter of his charity’s dodgy financial management.

So yeah, Wyclef – not exactly presidential material.

Jean, who was lovin’ all the media attention when he wanted to be regarded as Haiti’s messiah, was less forthcoming over the weekend, not surprisingly.

The only update he offered was via Twitter, his latest dispatch on Sunday: “Tomorrow our Lawyers are appealing the decision of the CEP. We have met all the requirements set by the laws. And the law must be Respected.”

Clef should just do the right thing and give up the gambit. It wasn’t a good idea in the first place. And Haiti, still limping from the devastating January earthquake, hardly needs yet another weak, crappy government.

ryan@roadtostarrdom.com