Giving a LinkedIn Recommendation to a Friend

You love your friend but have your reputation at work to protect.  What do you do when you don’t want to give your friend a recommendation (for whatever reason at all)? How should you handle it while saving your friendship?

http://www.thegrindstone.com/2012/07/31/career-management/9-things-to-do-when-a-friend-asks-you-for-a-job-recommendation-you-dont-want-to-give-715/4/