[Sudetenland]

Smart people in power positions do exactly what Deace said. No, you do not compliment women you don't know well and are secure in how they perceive your words that they are attractive or as you said, "'I like your hair' or 'That's a nice dress,' or 'You're looking nice today.'"

I learned the lesson a long, long time ago that if you do not put yourself into a position to be compromised, you cannot be compromised. Surely Cain would know this simple rule, having been in the upper echelons of the corporate world.

Making comments like those you mention can be easily misconstrued by women who work for you.

It doesn't matter what you know your intent was, it only matters what their interpretation of what you meant was. Anyone in a corporation who has experienced "diversity training" knows this. Certainly Cain, as head of Godfather's Pizza, VP at Pilsbury, and CEO of the National Restaurant Association has had repeated training in diversity. You can't exist in the corporate world without having been repeatedly exposed to that kind of training.

[Steve_Seattle]

I see your point, but don’t agree with it. Women spend billions of dollars trying to look good, and - within the bounds of traditional propriety - not PC madness - there’s nothing wrong in giving them their money’s worth, e.g., “That’s a nice outfit.”

[Mygirlsmom]

You can't exist in the corporate world without having been repeatedly exposed to that kind of training.

I have been, and it's a load of cr@p. Same with "the benefits of diversity" training. Bah.

[Smokin' Joe]

I learned the lesson a long, long time ago that if you do not put yourself into a position to be compromised, you cannot be compromised. Surely Cain would know this simple rule, having been in the upper echelons of the corporate world.

For those of us who grew up before all the thin skinned offense taken nowadays, it was considered polite to compliment somenone, especially a woman, on their appearance.

Before "free love" there was no presumption that a compliment was foreplay.

Now, communication is a fricking minefield.