Less than a week after Democratic candidates faced a lesbian couple, a man toting an assault rifle and many other YouTube users, most of the GOP candidates have decided they have better things to do than follow suit.

The Republicans’ CNN/YouTube debate slated for Sept. 17 only has two confirmed attendees so far: Sen. John McCain of Arizona and Rep. Ron Paul of Texas. The Washington Post reported Friday that no other Republican candidates have agreed to attend.

Mitt Romney has decried the debate. In an interview Wednesday with the New Hampshire Union Leader, he said, “I think the presidency ought to be held at a higher level than having to answer questions from a snowman.”

The offending video Romney referenced is one in which an animated snowman asked the candidates what they were doing to prevent climate change – an issue in which a snowman would clearly have a keen interest.

Romney’s reasoning is deplorable. The first YouTube debate has been widely accepted as a good thing – good for the people, the political process and television. Yes, the Democrats still dodged questions. Yes, journalists and editors still ultimately got to choose the questions asked. Yes, sometimes there were silly bits, and people laughed.

America still came out on top. Average people dropped some genuinely hard-hitting questions on the candidates, even if they sometimes garnered a giggle. People who watched the debate got to see some of the faces affected by issues such as health care, the Iraq war, and, of course, the environment.

Which brings us back to that snowman. As presented, it brought up a topic on many people’s minds and simultaneously elicited an emotional response. That’s a good thing.

It’s a shame Romney won’t answer serious questions if they’re posed in a lighthearted manner. A sense of humor is an asset among more than just the rabble. Prospective presidents can – and should – laugh too.

If anything, Romney and his fellow Republicans should embrace the YouTube debate. Their party is increasingly made up of older people. The Huffington Post reported on July 5 that voters older than 55 now make up 41 percent of the Republican Party, compared to 28 percent in 1997. If the GOP candidates participate in their debate, it just might help their image. Some of YouTube’s freshness and youth could rub off.

Then again, they do bill themselves as the Grand Old Party. Maybe freshness isn’t a priority.