Bob Franken: Hateful Words Trump Smart Debate

This is a real dilemma for many of us in punditbiz: Do we ignore Donald Trump's noxious publicity-mongering and his obvious attempts to advance his candidacy with mindless and hateful demagoguery, or are we obligated to dive into his excrement, particularly since the polls show that Republicans consider him a significant candidate? I'm afraid the answer is a no-brainer, just like his rhetoric. He can't be swept under the rug, and no, that is not a joke about his hair.

Much already has been said about his racist remark concerning Mexican immigrants "bringing drugs. They're bringing crime. They'...