WVOL host does not shy from Obama issue ‘on air’

When the Rev. T.J. Graham’s hiatus ended a few months ago, he vowed to bring high-profile or controversial personalities to his midday radio talk show.

So when his Tuesday guest, a Harlem minister, began bashing presidential candidate Barack Obama, the station’s phone lines — to no one’s surprise — began lighting up.

Graham’s hosted “Open Forum with T. J. Graham” since 2005 on WVOL-1470AM, with a short hiatus for a few months last year. But it’s been back in its noon-3 p.m. time slot now for the past six months, and Graham, who’s also the pastor at True Hope Missionary Baptist Church in Springfield, says that personalities like Tuesday’s guest, the Rev. James David Manning of the Atlah World Missionary Church in Harlem, are the type most talk shows avoid.

“This man has been trashing Barack Obama in a fashion that makes what the Rev. Jeremiah Wright said sound mild,” Graham said of Manning. “He’s called Obama’s mother trash, and is on the record as saying any black man who hasn’t been in jail can’t be trusted. He’s downing him in very specific and vicious language.”

Still, Graham expressed surprise at the lack of criticism over these types of comments.

“I haven’t heard anyone else say a word about his comments,” he said. “But I know that the phones lit up while he was talking, and that the Internet — [the show is streamed on wvol1470.com and wvol1470.net] — also was buzzing with reaction to his comments.”

As the only African-American host of a midday radio talk show in this area, the Rev. T. J. Graham knows that he’s in a position of power and influence.

“I’m willing to address subjects and go places as a talk show host that others won’t go,” he said. “I’m not afraid to have controversial guests come on the air, and I’m not afraid to talk about things that some others have shied away.”

While Graham expresses his concern that the Rev. Jeremiah Wright and his statements haven’t been covered fairly, he’s quick to add that right now he isn’t supporting any candidate and won’t make any announcements in that regard until the general election.

But he does have some favorable things to say about Obama in terms of his positions on dissent within his cabinet and communication with foreign leaders.

“I do admire the fact that Sen. Obama is on the record saying he’d have both Democrats and Republicans in his cabinet, and that he doesn’t want ‘yes’ people on his staff. If you can’t speak up and express your opinion, in my view you really aren’t worth much to the President because you can’t have any real influence on his views.”

By having Manning as a guest to blast Obama, Graham is not taking sides.

“Right now I’m not endorsing or supporting anyone,” Graham said. “This show is open to all politicians or citizens who feel they have something important to say. I don’t want anyone to feel that their point of view will be disrespected or ignored because everyone’s opinion is important and welcome.”

“Open Forum” also has addressed other issues — illegal immigration quite often, and everything from abortion to the conduct and attitude of America’s youth.

“We address national concerns but also look at how they affect the city of Nashville and our audience,” Graham said. “Others might try to stay away from controversy, but I welcome it. Anyone is free to call and express their opinion, and there aren’t many subjects that we won’t cover.”