That irrepressible leftie radio host Christine Craft (right) on KSAC (1240 AM) has introduced a new weekly feature that, at first blush, sounds racist but actually is meant to foster ethnic and religious understanding.
It's called "Ask a Muslim," and it features Craft and Basim Elkarra (left), the executive director of CAIR's (Council on American-Islamic Relations) Sacramento office, who will field listener questions during the 5 o'clock hour of Craft's show each Wednesday.
"Basim is articulate and very funny, and that's one of the reasons he's so effective a communicator," Craft says. "He's well versed on the intricacies of Islam but can make it come across clearly and with humor."
Craft says she is not ripping off the idea from the OC Weekly's Gustavo Arellano, whose snarky Q-and-A, "Ask a Mexican," has become so popular he's recently published a book of the same name. (Aside to Matt Coker, new editor of the Sac News & Review and Arellano's former editor at OC Weekly: When are we going to get "Ask a Mexican" syndicated here? It'd be hugely popular.)
"I used to have someone come on the air who was Iranian to answer questions, but it wasn't anything formal," Craft says. "I've talked to Basim before on issues and just thought he'd be perfect for something like this."
* In other KSAC news, the station has recently brought
Randi Rhodes' Air America show back. It airs from noon-3 p.m. weekdays.
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