In a 1972 essay, presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders (D-VT) opined that men fantasized about women being abused. He also claimed that women fantasized about being gang raped. In an article entitled “Men-And-Women,” published in an alternative newspaper called the “Vermont Freeman,” Sanders shared his thoughts on male and female sexuality in ways that would cause a media firestorm if it had been penned by any current GOP candidate. Even one with as little chance at grabbing his party’s nomination as Sanders currently has.

“A man goes home and masturbates his typical fantasy,” wrote Sanders. “A woman on her knees. A woman tied up. A woman abused.” Sanders didn’t specify as to how he had gained such a deep understanding of the male psyche. In terms of his understanding of female sexual fantasies, Sanders provided similar insight. “A woman enjoys intercourse with her man – as she fantasizes about being raped by 3 men simultaneously.”

It is unclear where Sanders acquired his early expertise on male and female sexual desires. But what is clear is that had Ted Cruz or Rick Santorum wrote something along these lines – even 40 years ago – the media wouldn’t stop talking about it for weeks.

Perhaps Sanders gets a pass due to his early work at a psychiatric hospital (No, he wasn’t a patient) or his associations with radical hippies in the early 60’s. But what is even more astounding is that the opinion piece was written AFTER Sanders had stepped into the political fray.