Wyclef Jean Is Running for President of Haiti: What's His Platform?

Rapper Wyclef Jean is expected to officially announce on tonight's Larry King Live that he will run for president of Haiti. Pundits are already debating whether the Port-au-Prince native, who has been extremely active in the country's post-earthquake relief efforts, will have what it takes to pull off the job. Considering the weighty issues he frequently tackles in his songs--including one aptly titled "If I Was President"--Esquire asked the editor of Rap Genius to break down what some of Jean's policy platforms might be based on lyrics he's written. Here's his possible stances on economics and crime:

Issue: Economics
Rhyme: "Instead of spending billions on the war / I can use that money to feed the poor" ("If I Was President")
Policy: Half of Haiti's population faces starvation. Unlike the madman running North Korea, Wyclef understands that a struggling nation must produce food, not merely weapons.

Issue: Crime
Rhyme: "All my gangs put the peace sign up now" ("Rebel Music")
Policy: Gang violence is a major issue in Haiti. An anti-violence initiative would go a long way. (However, on "Ready or Not" he raps "if I could rule the world / Everyone would have a gun in the ghetto of course," so he may believe that personal responsibility is somewhat more effective than gun control.)

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http://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2010/08/wyclef-jean-is-running-for-president-of-haiti-whats-his-platform/60927/