Some things you'll never see or hear in the media:

"Ford does have a better idea; I wouldn't drive a Chevy if they gave one to me." — Chevrolet regional manager.

"Don't support Republicans; get out and vote for Democrats." — Republican senator.

"If you eat at McDonald's, you'll turn into a tub of goo; I'd eat at Burger King." — McDonald's store manager.

When you play for a team, you're supposed to be on their side. Terrell Owens created a public furor when he ripped the Philadelphia Eagles (his employer) and his teammates (co-workers). The Eagles dumped him. If he had something to say, it should have been behind closed doors, at which point the boss probably would have told him to take it next door.

Contrary to recent popular opinion, LDS Church members are free to speak their views, whatever they might be. The LDS Church didn't flinch when Mormon Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid publicly opposed the same constitutional amendment that Nielsen criticized.

But it becomes a different matter if they are employees of the church and represent themselves as such when they express points of view that are contrary to their employer's interests. No employer would pay someone who was hurting their own agenda.

Nielsen himself wondered if he could have kept his job if he hadn't affiliated himself with the university in the column. "Maybe I shouldn't have done that," he said, without intending understatement.

When you're wearing the company title and cashing the company's paycheck, you're representing the company. That leaves three choices: Sing the party line, shut up or change jobs.

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Doug Robinson's column runs on Tuesday. Please send e-mail to drob@desnews.com.