"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,"So Penn believes Jean is a corporate shill who has no connection to Haiti?
I dismiss Penn’s first accusation right off the bat. It is motivated by the stereotypical progressive notion that all capitalist corporations are evil entities enriching themselves off the poorest among us. In fact, capitalism has raised more people ought of poverty than any other economic system on Earth.
I note Penn cannot name any of these interests in the United States who will be taking advantage of a potential Jean presidency.
The second accusation is personal classless ego stroking. Penn is mad he has been on the ground aiding Haiti since the earthquake hit early this year--a noble gesture on his part--but upset Jean might get more credit by assuming political power. Who does Jean think he is muscling in on Penn’s spotlight like that?
Jean was born in Haiti and established a fund in 2004 to aid his impoverished countrymen. If you do the quick math, that means Jean was helping his people a full six years before the earthquake struck, which is also likely six years before Spicolli could even find Haiti on a map.
Penn has highlighted allegations Jean misappropriated $ 400,000 I donations to his charity, an allegation Jean denies.
"I haven't seen or heard anything of [Wyclef Jean] in these last six months that I've been in Haiti. I think he's an important voice. I hope he doesn't sacrifice that voice by taking the eye off the very devastating realities on the ground," Penn said. "I want to see someone who's really, really willing to sacrifice for their country, and not just someone who I personally saw with vulgar entourage of vehicles that demonstrated a wealth in Haiti that, in context, I felt was a very obscene demonstration."I sense jealousy on Penn's part more than any legitimate concern.
