His judicial nominations have included several evangelical Christians, such as Charles Pickering and Claude Allen, a leading advocate of abstinence-education.

ECONOMIST: George Bush and the social conservatives

And he has sparred with civil rights leaders over the recess appointment of Mississippi Judge Charles Pickering Sr. to a federal appeals court.

NPR: Bush's Black Legacy

The letter was sent by WJ Tauzin, a Louisiana Republican, as well as by Joe Barton of Texas, Richard Burr of North Carolina, Charles Pickering of Mississippi, Cliff Stearns of Florida and Fred Upton of Michigan, the paper said.

BBC: US politicians attack HIV Muppet