Funny how this topic appeared just after my return from Vegas. Long story short: last weekend, while a few of the Goodboys were in Las Vegas, the 2012 CPAC Conference (a gathering of conservatives) was held in Washington, D.C. Evidently, in the aftermath of the conference there was a whole lot of commotion about the manner of dress of some of the younger people and bloggers who had attended. At the center of the controversy was Tina Korbe, a blogger from Hot Air, one of my daily go-to blogs. Tina’s not only a good writer with a gift for writing clearly and concisely, but she’s also very easy on the eyes (if you know what I mean).

At any rate, this video of Tina and her fellow Hot Air blogger Ed Morrissey evidently caught the wrath of more than a few conservative bloggers. Erick Erickson of Red State in effect, told her and those of her ilk “to grow up”. Robert Stacy McCain openly asked “Who wants to see Tina Korbe’s thighs?” (a rhetorical question, I’m sure), and Melissa Clouthier bemoaned “the Jersey Shore-ification of our young people”.

Me? I think this is all a bunch of hooey, if you don’t mind me saying. I’m going to side with Datetechguy (Hat tip: Instapundit) on this one and simply say, if you’ve got it, what’s the harm in flaunting it:

It is an invariable truth of CPAC that there is, every year, an inordinate number of incredible looking women dressed in a rather noticeable way.

As a man who is married, but not dead…this is not a fact that goes unnoticed.

…

There are three simple ways to look at this and I’m going to say them:

As a man: If women beautiful women choose to dress in a way that shows off their various assets I will notice them.

As a person trying to carry himself as a gentleman: I will do my best to not allow noticing a beautiful woman to override my dealings with her as a person or a blogger or a subject of an interview.

My advice to men is this: If a woman is so attractive as to be a distraction compliment the women on it right way and get it out-of-the-way, that way it won’t be on the back of your mind when doing other things.

My advice to women is this: It’s not for me to tell you how to dress, but if you choose to dress in a way that makes men notice then 1. Don’t be surprised if men notice you. 2. Don’t be offended if they compliment you.

I write this while fondly recalling sitting at Wynn‘s Parasol Up bar a week ago Friday night and watching all the pretty people go by. Girls dressed to the nines, the guys accompanying them – amazingly – not quite so much (what a bunch of dopes). Now, Wynn is absolutely the best place for this form of recreation. The Hemingway Daiquiris were cold and the right combination of tart/sweet, the company of my fellow Goodboys both fun and enjoyable, and it was hard not to notice that the girls walking by seemed to have cornered the market on very short mini-skirts and stiletto heels. Most could (and did) pull it off to varying degrees, a couple failed dismally. But who was I to say?

As Datetechguy mentions above, I’m married but I’m not dead. I love my wife, but I appreciate a pretty girl who knows how to dress (I’m always amazed at the number of girls who don’t) as much as anyone. Personally, I think I’d make a great fashion consultant at a local mall store, because I have a good sense of taste, style, and coordination (something handed down to me, I’m sure, from my Mom, who always knew how to dress me right as a kid). And my feeling is this: if you’re young and attractive, by all means go for it. If God gave you a great figure, then who am I to judge how you dress and present yourself? Others of both sexes may not like it, may not respect you, and may even resent you for it, but as a red-blooded American heterosexual (and proud of it), I’m not one of them.

Youth and beauty don’t last forever, but from someone on this side of middle age, it’s always appreciated when it’s done with taste, class, and appreciation. Like Datetechguy, I have to admit I didn’t even notice Tina’s outfit until I heard about the controversy. I just thought she was an attractive, intelligent young woman asking a GOP candidate for President good questions who would also look completely at home at Wynn on a Friday night in Vegas. And what’s so wrong with that?

So to Erick, Robert, Melissa and all the other prudes out there, I can only say: lighten up.