It’s being reported this morning that the Republican Party’s YouTube debate is back on, scheduled for November 28th. All the candidates still standing have apparently accepted the debate format, except for Mitt Romney.

The elitist millionaire has expressed some disparaging thoughts about the process. In an interview with the Manchester NH Union Leader he is quoted as saying, "I think the presidency ought to be held at a higher level than having to answer questions from a snowman."

A cynical observer might think that Mr Romney, who has posted 283 campaign videos on YouTube as of Sunday morning, actually has a concern about being asked questions by the nation’s unwashed, non-millionaire, peasantry. He seems quite at home with the medium when he’s controlling the input.

That drew a video response from Billiam, the snowman who questioned the Democrats on global warming last month in their YouTube debate. This time, he riffed on another Romney quote from the campaign: "Lighten up slightly."

The snowman’s quote refers to Mr Romney’s response to the furor created by the episode on the campaign trail last month in which Mr Romney famously posed with a rather nasty sign made by a supporter that made a vicious comparison. Being a typical Republican, the multi-millionaire Romney grinned and gaped during photographs of the event, even endorsing the sentiments expressed on the sign by taking it in his own two hands and holding it up to be seen more clearly. [Emph added because this is going to be an important point.] Grabbing the sign up in his own two Mitt-mitts sure symbolizes endorsement and ownership of the smear to me.

When criticism of the event circulated widely around the country Mr Romney tapdanced away from his mistake, making his "Lighten up slightly" comment that is sure to follow him around, like Seamus, the Romney family Irish Setter that allegedly loves riding on top of the family station wagon.

There’s a firestorm suggesting he’s suggesting a link between or Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton and Osama bin Laden. Others demand he disavow the poster. Just read memeorandum or this link to Technorati and you’ll see how this has become a big issue.

And, of course, Romney’s campaign has had to put a band aid on this quickly.

As Josh Marshall’s TPMCafe noted:

This obviously invited the question: Was it appropriate for Mitt Romney to hold up a sign likening Barack Obama to the leader of an international terrorist network, responsible for bloody attacks upon the United States, apparently all based on his name? After all, what would the media reaction be if Barack Obama posed with a supporter who had a sign comparing President Bush to Adolf Hitler? The press would go nuts over it, surely, and rightly so.

Election Central contacted Romney spokesman Kevin Madden for comment, asking if it was appropriate for the candidate to hold the sign up with the woman. “The governor stopped briefly for a picture with a supporter who just happened to be holding their own sign with an alliterative play on words,” Madden said, via e-mail. “I don’t think it was equating or comparing anyone.”

So lighten up, everyone. Who are you going to believe? A spinmeister for a racist millionaire elitist or your own two lying eyes?