Bernie Sanders: Controversial Essay Was Like '50 Shades Of Grey'

Briefly dabbling in erotic fiction may not have turned Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) into a multimillionaire, but the 2016 Democratic presidential candidate suggested on Sunday that he has something in common with bestselling author E.L. James.

During an appearance on NBC’s “Meet The Press,” host Chuck Todd asked Sanders about a controversial essay that the senator wrote, which was published in a Vermont alternative magazine in February 1972.

Sanders’ essay, which appeared to be an attempt at satire, suggested that women fantasize about being raped.

“That was 43 years ago,” Sanders said. “It was very poorly written, and if you read it, what it was dealing with was gender stereotypes -- why some men like to oppress women, why other women like to be submissive. You know, something like 50 Shades of Grey.”

Sanders kicked off his long-shot presidential bid with a well-attended rally in Burlington, Vermont, earlier this week.