Sentence:  All of these pivoted on the larger Problems: Not only how the press should discuss sexual morality of public officials but whether this ever should be a measure of fitness for public office; not only how the local press will allow its judgment to be pre-empted or conditioned by the Washington press, but also how news judgments, always contagious, can degenerate into <WSD>bear baiting</WSD>. 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  A bloodthirsty free for all.