Manchester -- Wes Clark expressed outrage at President Bush's recess appointment of Charles Pickering to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals.

"Today President Bush appointed Charles Pickering, a strong opponent of civil rights, to the federal bench. Making this appointment, the day after visiting Martin Luther King's grave, is an affront to everything Dr. King stood for. George Bush should be ashamed."

"By appointing Charles Pickering to the court, the Bush administration is continuing its assault on our most fundamental civil rights. Judge Pickering has an unforgivably dismal record on important civil rights issues. Throughout his career, he has consistently put right-wing ideology above settled law. This is a man who has criticized the use of civil rights laws to fight discrimination. He has pushed an anti-civil rights, anti-voting rights and anti-choice agenda, and there's no reason to think he's going to stop now."

"Instead of providing leadership that will bring people together, President Bush has gone behind Congress' back, and against the recommendations of hundreds of civil rights organizations, to make this appointment. Once again, President Bush has shown his true colors - he is a pawn of right-wing ideologues who are determined to undermine our civil rights and roll back the progress we've made over the last forty years."

"This appointment is reckless, irresponsible, and wrong. As President, I will appoint judges who represent the values of freedom, equality, and inclusion, not the divisiveness of those like Judge Pickering."