IS Wyclef Jean Being Manipulated?

The rumor came out of nowhere but was promptly dismissed by political observers because it sounded so bizarre. Although Wyclef Jean had written a song “If, I were president”, this was by no means a clear indication of his affinity for politics, let alone presidential aspiration. Then Raymond Joseph, Wyclef Jean’s distant cousin and Haiti’s ambassador to Washington for the last 6 years, resigned the post, prompting speculations of a run of his own or playing a role of political mentor to his famous cousin. In an interview with the New York Times on Wednesday August 4th, Jean said “I'm not running for president so much as I'm being drafted" by the youth of Haiti.” "The decision is made," he told the Wall Street Journal.
On Thursday August 5th Wyclef Jean, internationally-renowned Haitian singer and political neophyte, flew to Haiti and formally announced that he was in fact running for president of his country: the most complex political entity in the entire world. When the smoke clears, Jean may regret having embarked in this treacherous adventure which will certainly change his life forever. He is no longer the apolitical and unabashed patriot or the compassionate idealist wishing the best for his impoverished fellow Haitians, but a politician like the others, possessing all the negative stereotypes attached with the label. Moreover, he would have to overcome the electorate’s entrenched prejudices against uneducated people, a paradox by any measures that shows the complexity of Haitian politics, and its animosity toward the arrogant and patronizing Diaspora.
Now the Préval-dominated, fraud-plagued and corrupt CEP (French acronym for Provisional Electoral Council) will have to decide on Wyclef’s eligibility, which will be at the forefront of his candidacy. Will the CEP adhere to the strict interpretation of the Constitution or yield to the interests of the obscure forces by letting Mr. Jean get a pass in the matter of eligibility? Wyclef’s appointment as a roving ambassador by René Préval in 2007 theoretically exempts him from the residency requirement but only covers 3 years. Whatever the outcome, the flaws of the 1987 Constitution in regard to eligibility have become apparent with his candidacy. Does an expatriate, who fails to contribute to the treasury by way of paying taxes, qualify to run for the highest office of the land? This is an issue that needs to be addressed, since contributing to the treasury remains the premier obligation of all citizens toward the state.
Without a doubt, the chance of Wyclef getting elected to the Haitian presidency is next to zero; however, his participation as a candidate lends credibility to the election, which was poised to be boycotted by Lavalas and other political sectors. The CEP, which arbitrarily banned Haiti’s largest political party from participating in the incoming vote, now finds itself between a rock and a hard place. Assuming it rules in Wyclef’s favor; its credibility as the guardian of electoral laws will certainly take a nose dive and negate the notion of its supposed impartiality. On the other hand, a rejection of Wyclef’s candidacy may cause a backlash not only from euphoric Haitian youths dissatisfied with the ruling, but also the international community which is counting on a high voter turnout that puts to rest the notion of Lavalas or Aristide, for that matter, as a potent force in Haitian politics.
Without a doubt, Wyclef loves his country; being a self-made man makes him more qualified than most professional politicians whose claim to the office has more to do with personal ambitions and sublime arrogance rather than track records. However, he is being manipulated into something beyond his musical talent. This is not the return of the prodigal son. In normal circumstances Wyclef’s candidacy would be perceived as a joke, but at this juncture it is a lifeline to the international community’s bizarre and, so far, unsuccessful attempt at fostering stability in Haiti. Goaded by obscure forces with an interest in seeing what would be a fraudulent election validated through sizable voter participation, Wyclef is a pawn in a game of deceit. The loser could only be the Haitian people whose future is currently in the hands of entities that have a vested interest in perpetuating the politic of exclusion.
What is Wyclef’s political orientation? His song “ If, I were president” no doubt speaks the mind of a populist, but a fellow celebrity, academy award winner Sean Penn, who is doing a terrific job in Haiti helping the poor, thinks otherwise. "This is somebody who's going to receive an enormous amount of support from the United States, and I have to say I'm very suspicious of it, simply because he, as an ambassador at large, has been virtually silent. For those of us in Haiti, he has been a non-presence," said Penn. Indeed, there is good reason to be suspicious of Wyclef’s motives, regardless of the lyrics of his songs and philanthropic works, as he is too closely associated with the administrators of the occupation.
At this juncture, we need a leader of stature who not only understands Haiti’s limited room for maneuver in its dealing with the occupiers but also willing to stand up to unreasonable demands without endangering their commitment to the reconstruction. Few of the current crops of declared presidential candidates fit the criteria and Wyclef Jean, a political neophyte with absolutely no understanding of the international power structure, is certainly not among them. We are down and beaten, but not desperate.