We conservatives sometimes criticize pop culture icons (such as rappers, rock stars and sports heroes) for setting a bad example. Here's how the argument goes:

"Sure, pop culture stars can dress and talk the way they do -- but if the average teenager does it -- he won't succeed or prosper in our society."

Generally, this is good advice. Having lots of tattoos, for example, may limit your future career opportunities (if the band thing falls through). Wearing band tee shirts to a job interview may also have a detrimental affect on your career prospects.

And lets be honest, most of us need a job of some sort. What are the odds of your making it to the pros as a basketball player? Like one in a million??? I'm still waiting for my band to be signed. I'm guessing that's one call that I will never receive ...

The bottom line is that the "gangster" or "alternative" lifestyle can actually hurt both young and underprivileged people because it sells them a false bill of goods. It makes it harder for them to raise themselves out of poverty, for example. Liberal elites and Hollywood movie stars who perpetuate this lifestyle are actually hurting people, so the theory goes.

Fair enough...

Now, I'd like to draw an analogy between these misguided "youts of America" who admire pop culture icons -- and young conservatives who posture themselves as the next controversial conservative star (yes, Ann Coulter is living that gansta lifestyle, in a sense).

Reality Check: Your odds of achieving the type of notoriety that Ann Coulter enjoys are only slightly less likely than your odds are of making it big as a rap star -- and following Coulter's example may yield you similarly negative results.

... But before I go any further, let me point out that heretofore, conservative criticism of Coulter has been based on the argument that, while she is good at rallying the base, her rhetoric actually hurts our movement when it comes to winning converts. My argument is a bit different.

Clearly, Ann has been very successful because she is controversial. Controversy sells. She knows this.

I've witnessed this phenomenon , myself. I've written articles for many publications -- the vast majority of which were educational (not opinion) -- and the vast majority of which were generally ignored. Nobody wants to talk about my Campaigns & Elections Magazine article on how candidates and campaign managers should handle losing a political election. While this article certainly addressed an important topic, it was not "sexy" or controversial. Thus, it was not widely commented on.

Yet, there have been a few occasions where I have gotten a lot of attention. ... When I criticized the Rolling Stones -- or Terrell Owens -- for example -- my musings were suddenly deemed "newsworthy" and were picked up by several media outlets.

Lesson learned: If you want attention, just be controversial. Had I taken this lesson to heart, I would have written a lot more salacious attack articles. In fact, based on this argument, if Ann Coulter reads this and responds by calling me a "girlie man" (as she apparently did to Rich Lowry), it would probably be good news for me...

Everybody in our society wants their 15 minutes of fame. That's the whole reason people go on reality TV shows -- and Jerry Springer. ...But there is a difference between merely being "famous" and being respected.

Each of us must ask ourselves if we want to be P.T. Barnum or Ronald Reagan. Or, to give it a pop culture flavor: do we want to be Paris Hilton or Reese Witherspoon? I would much rather be respected as a professional than merely be "famous." I guess I'm a "Reese."

But, as they say, "politics is Hollywood for ugly people," and I fear there are a growing number of young people out there paying attention. Because of the new media (which I am generally a fan of), young people now have the ability to post blogs before they have matured as writers and people.

This can be a dangerous proposition; we've already witnessed a trend of employers using postings (myspace, facebook, etc.) to research potential employees. Conservatives are not immune to this.

Now, I have no problem with being controversial. "Extremism in defense of liberty" is no vice -- but extremism for the sake of sensationalism, is.

Thanks to the hard work of many conservative leaders, there are a growing number of young conservatives who want to grow up to be the next Jonah Goldberg, Ann Coulter, or Laura Ingraham. This is a very good thing.

But with opportunity comes responsibility. Our celebrities -- even conservative pundits -- have a responsibility to be role models.