Arianna Huffington, blogstress behind the Huffington Post, has proposed hosting an “internet debate” for the presidential candidates. But here’s the twist – not only does she want to lure the Dems into her virtual lair, she also wants to host an internet debate for the Republican hopefuls. Oooh, Arianna, you sly little devil.

Across the Republican spectrum, there appears to be widespread agreement that the Republican candidates should tell Arianna some variation of, “We’d love to attend, but we have to do our laundry that night.” After all, the Democratic candidates have turned down a debate that Fox sponsored, apparently fearful that they would collectively melt under Brit Hume’s withering glare. So the general conservative thinking goes, “Tit-for-tat - if their guys (and gal) are going to dis a respectable news organization like Fox, the least our guys can do is tell Arianna and her fellow travelers thanks but no thanks.”

Allow me to sound a contrary viewpoint. I think the Republican candidates should seize the opportunity to address Arianna’s collection of misfits and outcasts. If they do, there are two possible scenarios: The first and most likely scenario is that Arianna produces a professional caliber show, and the result is a typically soporific presidential debate. After all, Charlie Rose is slated to be the moderator. With Rose hosting, the candidates will hardly have the opportunity to squeeze a word in edgewise anyway.

But the other possibility is far more intriguing. Imagine that the debate sponsors conduct themselves in the manner that has won them the sobriquet “moonbats.” Imagine that they show the same class and dignity in a very public forum that they did on the Internet when there was an attempt on Dick Cheney’s life. If that happened, then the true nature of the people who are calling the tunes that the Democratic candidates eagerly dance to would at last be revealed to an agape public.

BUT WAIT! THERE’S MORE! Such a forum would provide a priceless opportunity for the Republican candidates to seize the high ground and look big as they scold their critics who would look (and in truth are) juvenile and small. They could have a Sista Souljah moment, but one that doesn’t come at the expense of members of their own base. They could publicly show some spine, something the American public loves in its leaders.

Additionally, the more prominent the Netroots become, the better it is for the Republican Party. What happens in the Netroots would disgust most Americans. Unfortunately, most Americans don’t even know the Netroots exist, let alone that the Democratic candidates pander to them with an equal mix of pathos and desperation. The Republican candidates have the chance to confer a new level of legitimacy and prominence to the Netroots. They should seize it.

One final point – anyone who runs for president has to know that all the venues they’ll have to hit can’t necessarily be friendly ones. At times, it’s necessary to venture into the lion’s den. For all of our candidates, it would be a swell thing if they got in the habit of doing so sooner rather than later. Just as the Democratic candidates look like pathetic chickens for avoiding the mean old Fox News Network, the Republicans would look courageous for hitting a venue where they know they’re not particularly beloved.

The Huffington Post debate? Bring it on.

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