As a conservative, Anglo pastor, one of few things I share with Jeremiah Wright is that we are both overweight ministers who are not running for president. To hold Barack Obama accountable for his pastor's sermons is fine, provided the same standard is applied to the white candidates seeking the same office. This is clearly not the case.

The public has no idea whether John McCain or Hillary Clinton attends church often enough to be associated with any church leader, yet we know Obama's former pastor as a household name. What we have is the first legitimate shot for an African-American to be elected president coupled with a totally different level of accountability between candidates based on race. Perhaps separate water fountains will soon follow.

I voted in Orlando to approve the 2000 Baptist Faith & Message, which admonishes Christians to oppose racism. Outrageous comments by a noncandidate can never justify a response of political racism that appears designed to narrow the field to whites only.

Rev. Paul Arnold

Nashville