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Wyclef for President?

“Instead of spending billions on the war, I can use that money to feed the poor.” So goes one verse of Wyclef Jean’s 2004 song If I Was President. If all goes according to his plan, the singer announced earlier this month, he’ll have the chance to make those lyrics a reality.

Assuming that he clears the red tape (and that’s a big assumption), Jean will launch a bid for presidency of his native Haiti, the country he was born in before moving with family to the United States at age nine. Although you have to admire the idea, I think it’s seriously questionable if Wyclef Jean is qualified to run a country he hasn’t really lived in since childhood.

According to this CBC article, Jean only kind-of-sort-of qualifies to run. Haiti’s president needs to own property there, and have lived in the country for five years prior to the election.

Jean, of course, grew up in the US, but even after reaching stardom, he never applied for an American passport. Kudos to him for being so patriotic about his heritage and his home country; you have to respect that. But I can’t help but wonder how well he really knows the place after making his fortune for so long elsewhere.

Don’t get me wrong; Wyclef Jean has done a lot for his country, especially after the earthquake. He founded the Yéle Haiti Foundation, standing by it even after allegations broke that the organization had misdirected funds. I love the exuberance – and Haiti’s young population would, too. I’m sure he’d get enough support from the people, but that still doesn’t mean that a stint as president would necessarily pan out.

What do you think will come of Wyclef Jean’s ambitious bid for Haitian presidency?