Daddy Yankee takes on new role as debate moderator
The Associated PressPublished: October 10, 2008
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico: Tom Brokaw, Jim Lehrer, Gwen Ifill — and Daddy Yankee?
The 31-year-old reggaeton star shed his trademark sunglasses to help moderate a televised debate Thursday among candidates for governor of Puerto Rico, in an effort to lure young voters to the polls Nov. 4.
The artist, whose real name is Ramon Ayala, read questions submitted through social-networking Web sites such as Facebook and MySpace, but went off-script at the end of the debate.
"We're losing a generation," Daddy Yankee said, referring to troubled teens who have turned to drugs or dropped out of school. "Let's heed this crisis and bring back hope to our public housing."
Best known for his song "Gasolina," Daddy Yankee already has delved into national politics by endorsing Sen. John McCain for president as "a fighter for the Hispanic community." Residents of this U.S. Caribbean territory, however, cannot vote in the presidential election.
____________________ If you live by the grace of a community, you need to be gracious too.
