Negron’s New Campaign Slogan: Punch Foley for Joe

Now some fresh pickings from the Political Grapevine:

Identity Uncovered

The gay rights group known as "Human Rights Campaign" has fired an employee…who admitted being the first person to publish e-mails written by then-congressman Mark Foley to a former male page.

A vice president of the group says the unnamed junior staff member was dismissed because he inappropriately used the organization's resources. Foley's e-mails were first published on the employee's Web site — and were then broadcast by ABC four days later, after which Foley resigned. ABC and other news organizations had been in possession of the e-mails for months, but had not made them public.

The employee — who is a Democrat — reportedly was about to be exposed by another blogger who is a Republican. The employee told his bosses he was about to be identified... and he was then let go.

Identity Crisis

Foley's replacement in the campaign — but not on the ballot — is Joe Negron. Foley resigned too late for Negron's name to be printed in Foley's place.

So a voter has to hold his or her nose and hit the punch card for Foley in order to elect Negron. To make such a vote more palatable, Negron has a new campaign slogan: "Punch Foley for Joe." Signs encouraging that sentiment, and means of voting, will be all over the district soon.

Judges Judged

A ballot measure in South Dakota could result in judges being stripped of their immunity from lawsuits and exposed to fines and even jail terms.

Supporters of "Amendment E" say it would rein in judges who deliberately disregard the law and violate people's rights — by doing things like preventing witnesses or evidence from being admitted — dismissing cases as frivolous — or allowing facts to be misrepresented. It would establish a special grand jury to decide whether judges have broken the rules.

Opponents of the measure say it is "a proposal for revenge" and "a path to anarchy and chaos."

Attack Ad

Speaking of judges, a Georgia Supreme Court justice is running an ad against her opponent that claims he threatened to kill his pregnant sister and was sued by his own mother for taking her money.

Justice Carol Hunstein says the ad informs Georgians of opponent Michael Wiggins’ lack of experience and questionable judicial temperament. Wiggins — who was a high-ranking lawyer in the Department of Homeland Security — denies threatening his sister — and says the lawsuit by his mother was actually the result of someone else stealing her money — which he recovered and returned.

Wiggins calls Justice Hunstein's ad a "cruel, false and personal attack." He ran an earlier ad saying that Hunstein "has made a habit of ignoring laws she doesn't like."

Total Recall

And the FCC has denied a complaint by California Democratic gubernatorial candidate Phil Angelides over Arnold Schwarzenegger's recent appearance on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno."

Angelides had argued that the show violated equal time laws by refusing to let him come on.

But the FCC said that the governor's appearance fit the exemption for news and talk programs. This is the second time the Leno show has taken heat for having Schwarzenegger on. After the actor declared his candidacy on the show in 2003, Leno invited all 135 other candidates to appear together. They were given 10 seconds to shout their ideas — all at the same time.

—FOX News Channel's Martin Hill contributed to this report.