For "American Idol" judge Paula Abdul, kindness is a much-needed virtue.

"There's a great strength in being kind," says Abdul, who is sometimes criticized by fans for being too lenient on contestants.

Rarely does she say an unkind word to contestants, even when they're having an off night.

Fans are well aware of how fellow judge Simon Cowell teases - and even openly mocks - her about her judging technique.

"Paula Abdul has always been known as 'the good judge' on 'American Idol,' " writes David Bloomberg on the Web site Foxesonidol.com.

"She is supposedly there to offset 'Mr. Nasty' himself, Simon Cowell. But throughout the entire competition, it has struck me and many others that she doesn't really offset him.

"Simon, after all, can certainly be blunt in his assessment of any faults the singers might have. But he can be just as effusive in his praise when he feels a contestant deserves it. Paula, on the other hand, always makes positive comments."

Abdul says she's making an important contribution on "Idol" (airing 8 p.m. Tuesdays and 9 p.m. Wednesdays on Fox). "Simon is doing his job, and I am doing mine," she says. "I have always known what mine is.

"It's easy for him to be the way he is, and it is easy for me to do what I feel like I need to do. We are who we are."

But the Queen of Nice also makes an aside about her fellow judge: "He can be worse off camera."

She also says her kindness is not deceitful. "I am honest, very honest," she says of her critiques.

Abdul says her approach to contestants comes from her years as a performer.

"My style differs from (judge) Randy (Jackson) and from Simon because I am a performer," says Abdul, whose new CD is coming this summer. "I know what it's like to be up there and vulnerable.

"There's a certain psyche to being up there and performing. I don't know if anyone can understand it unless they do it themselves."

Jackson and Cowell are music and television producers.

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