CLEVELAND -- One might wonder how a Frenchman wound up hosting a liberal talk show on a radio station in Cleveland that caters to conservatives.

It happened when Simon Badinter, an advertising executive by day, decided he wanted to give radio a try.

"I can't act. I can't dance. I can't sing. But I can talk, " he said.

Badinter persuaded decision-makers at WTAM to put him on the air.

So every Saturday afternoon from 1 to 3, it's The Simon Rendezvous. The French meaning of rendezvous is a meeting or get-together, not necessarily a romantic encounter.

Badinter believes he provides a balance to WTAM's right-leaning talkers Mike Trivisonno and Bob France.

He talks about timely hot button issues.

His early shows brought calls from French-bashing listeners.

"They said 'F' the French. I told them I would play two minutes of France's national anthem every time that happened, " Badinter said.

Badinter claims he's a big believer in the power of spoken words.

He claims that comes from his father Robert Badinter, a French lawyer, Supreme Court Chief Justice and now Senator. Robert Badinter is credited with being the driving force to eliminate capital punishment in France.

His mother, Elisabeth, is a leading French feminist.

"My parents made me the man I am," Badinter said.

He came to Cleveland in the late 1990's. The global media and advertising company started by his grandfather won a deal to put ads in kiosks on downtown streets.

He now lives in Bath and commutes to New York and Chicago during the week.

Badinter tries to leave listeners entertained and uplifted. He believes many Greater Clevelanders are too negative about the region and it's problems.

"There is a low self-esteem in the city," he said. "It's great to be a Clevelander. Let's be positive and lift it up."

He believes political and business leaders are doing a decent job.

"We have to be our own leaders," he said.

Badinter's program began in November 2007 and runs at least through the end of the year. He hopes to get a television program to expand his career.

His French accent leaves many women listeners swooning.

"It's great to be single and in Cleveland," he said.

© 2008 WKYC-TV