Bernie Sanders, a cadidate for the Democratic presidential nomination, has come under fire for controversial statements he wrote on men, women, sexual desire and rape, according to the Washington Examiner.

His opinions were published in 1972 by the Vermont Freeman, an alternative newspaper.

"A man goes home and masturbates his typical fantasy... A woman on her knees, a woman tied up, a woman abused," wrote Sanders in the article Man and Woman.

"A woman enjoys intercourse with her man – as she fantasizes being raped by three men simultaneously."

The Sander's campaign has said that the article was a "dumb" attempt at satire, according to NPR, with spokesman Michael Briggs saying that the article "in no way reflects his views or record on women."

"It was intended to attack gender stereotypes of the '70s, but it looks as stupid today as it was then," said Briggs.

The article is shocking to many, with the questions it poses on gender roles and societies views toward rape.

"Have you ever looked at the Stag, Man, Hero, Tough magazines on the shelf of your local bookstore? Do you know why the newspaper with the articles like 'Girl 12 raped by 14 men' sell so well? To what in us are they appealing?"

The article, originally unearthed by Mother Jones, has been posted in its entirety.