Commentary: Woodrow Wilson also fanned the flames of hate

Along rivers prone to overflowing, people sometimes talk of preparing for a 100-year flood - a dangerous surge of muddy, debris-filled water so overwhelming it comes only once a century.

In our political world, we are now seeing a 100-year flood of toxic speech and attitudes. The sludge washing ashore includes President Trump's continuing cries of "fake news!" and "traitors"; his rage at immigrants and refugees; his touting of an "invasion" at the southern border; and his recent round of attacks on the four young congresswomen of color known as the Squad.

Disturbing as they