It is well known that foreign and domestic corporations and governments would like to exploit Haitians. If Jean is backed by the “wrong” people, they will continue to exploit and extend the suffering and poverty in Haiti. There may be more than one way to judge Jean’s intentions, despite the fact that throughout the Haitian crisis, Jean has accomplished very little to ease suffering in Haiti. Penn has a valid point, Haitians can expect no more than what they have already seen. Be careful about believing in the “Hope and Change” messages, because honestly… it means something different to every person…

Wyclef officially announces he’s running for President … on CNN?

After weeks of demurring and struggling to come to terms with the “sacrifice” of Beijing Haiti’s next president, Wyclef Jean announces he’s running for president on CNN. How many of the 2.1 million people living in the tent cities do you think saw that announcement? He went on to say that he was inspired by Obama’s campaign and will be integrating a big Internet component to his campaign to raise money in Haiti. Do they have Wi-Fi in the tent cities? Does he actually know he’ll be elected by the Haitian people? To serve the Haitian people? And that he will have to live in Haiti to do that?

Wyclef confidently told Wolf Blitzer (sitting in for Larry King) on CNN (aka the Clinton News Network) that he had been “drafted” by the youth of Haiti to run. He is going to represent the youth of Haiti and put people around him who know how to govern. What? He then said he was “neutral” – and will work with all parties. Really? He’s Preval’s roving Ambassador – how is he “neutral”.

And then he said he was going to “hop on his plane” and travel around the world to make sure countries paid the money the promised. He was outraged (and rightfully so) that only 5% of the money has been delivered. What??

Bill Clinton can chase the aid money around the world – leave it to the UN Special Envoy to do that. What Haiti needs is a leader – with experience and a good track record. Not a recording artist (who, BTW, most industry insiders refer to as Wy-theft because he steals their music) with an abysmal track record of managing his charity and his person finances (see …). He used the charity money to pay his girlfriend, finance his concert series and buy a TV station. He clearly doesn’t care about where the line of legality is – he just steps right over it every time. He even had his personal mansion in Miami go into foreclosure. He also owed the New Jersey government about $183,000 in back taxes, and he told Wolf “it’s been handled.” Does New Jersey know that?

It was uncomfortable to watch him bob and weave and duck the tough questions (about taxes, mishandling his charity, foreclosure, lack of experience, citizenship, language skills, etc — Wolf went through the whole list). But perhaps the most telling statement was this:

“An election won in Haiti and lost in the US and around the world is not an election – it must be won in the international community”.

Really? The Haitian people don’t have the ultimate say and the ultimate authority to right the wrongs of the past two decades? Seems he might really think that the US will get him elected. Wonder why? I would suggest that everyone closely watch his relationship with the Clinton machine. Somehow I bet that big Haiti projects will be going to key PR firms and management consultants over the next few months.

He is so out of touch it’s incredible. He got off some private plane in a suit with his wife and daughter in tow waving for the cameras … like he was campaigning in the US! Sean Penn was interviewed afterwards and talked about the big “vulgar” motorcade that he took around the city flaunting his wealth in a country that isn’t even scratching by. Why would he think that’s inspiring?

And, something I find so incredibly unbelievably annoying, he referred to himself in the third person the whole time. “Wyclef wouldn’t do that,” and “Wyclef Jean has never done that.” Oh brother … the Haitian people deserve a real candidate. This is a joke.