Anne Martens, the communications director for Oregon Secretary of State Bill Bradbury, last week felt moved to post a disclaimer on Blue Oregon, a liberal Web site. She stressed that a commentary she had written earlier was her own opinion and had nothing to do with her employer.

Would that things were that easy in public life. But they're not. A person is a single entity, not two or three different parts who can separate themselves from what the other parts are doing.

As the spokeswoman for Bradbury, one of the top state officials, she must have realized that her private views on a hot political issue would inevitably reflect on her role as a person on the public payroll.

In her commentary, she had likened opposition to illegal immigration to racism. She slammed one of these opponents, state Rep. Linda Flores, saying she "must make an extra effort to overcome the ill effects of her Hispanic surname."

Also listed in her condemnation of anti-immigrant racists were two of the contenders for the Republican nomination for governor, of whom she wrote they would likely attend a rally last Friday in Salem against illegal immigration: "Word is Mannix and Saxton will be there too, each hoping to appear hateful enough to snatch up votes with vitriol."

In her disclaimer, posted later, she wrote that it was "opportunistic and dishonest to impute something under my personal byline to my employer in an effort to stir up a political maelstrom."

She forgets that she herself mentioned the secretary of state's office in her commentary, recalling a letter received there on the immigration issue.

She has a way with words, but she is kidding herself that as a spokeswoman for Bradbury and a state employee she has a completely private life in which she can make fun of legislators' names and accuse others of "vitriol" without some raised eyebrows among people interested in politics and public life.

That's one of the downsides of blogs. Bloggers can easily get carried away by the freewheeling atmosphere where anything goes and no restraint applies. If someone in a prominent position contributes to such a site, even as a private person, she can't be surprised if anyone takes offense. (hh)