MSNBC's Donny Deutsch wrote in his 2005 book that he constantly flirted with and fantasized about his female colleagues, with thoughts like, "Why haven't I fucked that girl?"
Deutsch joined a "thoughtful" conversation about sexual harassment on Morning Joe Friday morning. He said he hopes he is not "brought down" for his behavior towards women 30 years ago, like attempted kissing.
More recently, in his book Often Wrong, Never In Doubt published 12 years ago, Deutsch described in explicit detail how he interacted with women at the office as an advertising executive.
"I don't think there's been a day in my business career when there hasn't been some woman at work that I fantasized about," Deutsch wrote in his chapter "Women Are Muses."
"People come by the office, look around and say, 'Boy, the men and women at Deutsch are very physically attractive,'" Deutsch continued. "Now obviously we hire supremely competent and talented people, but the idea of some woman that I'm excited to see or flirt with or even just think about stimulates me in business."
"I cannot remember a time in my career when I was not having either a flirtation with a woman in the office, or a friendship, a fantasy, or all of the above. I am at my best when women are there to energize and excite me," he wrote.
Deutsch says the average man is constantly thinking about sex. "Whether it's 'I want to fuck that girl' or 'Why haven't I fucked that girl?' or 'I'm so horny,' sex and how we appeal to the opposite sex—or the same sex, if that's your dinner choice—is a huge driver of everything we do," he said.
Deutsch also said "carnal guys" are "better people" and praised men in power who are "womanizers."
"The question 'How is this going to get me into the sack' goes deep to the heart of all impulse to action," Deutsch writes. "I truly believe that's why men accumulate power. I also believe it's the carnal guys who are better people and use their power to better ends."
In 2005, Deutsch praised Bill Clinton and other Democratic presidents who were known philanderers. On Friday, the Morning Joe panel called Clinton a "predator" who sexually harassed Monica Lewinsky. Clinton has also been accused of rape and other sexual misconduct with women.
"We acted shocked when we find that throughout history, men in power have been womanizers: FDR, Eisenhower, JFK, Bill Clinton," Deutsch wrote in the book. "I would argue that this goes hand in hand with the personality type. Why do we expect men who are conquerors to stop conquering when it comes to women? If in ancient times you were conquering new worlds, or in the modern era you are buying up companies, why would that impulse go away? It's more surprising when things don't work out that way."
Deutsch argued in ancient civilizations the "spoils of war" were "beautiful virgins, the ultimate prize." Now, it's the "trophy wife, the ultimate trophy."
He ended the chapter by praising Donald Trump, who he called an "expert" at women, using an anecdote about how Trump once walked past Deutsch to say hello to two "incredibly cute women."
Deutsch also recalled shooting an episode of The Apprentice, in which he described the cast as "large, small, leggy, busty, black, white." He said Trump told him, "It's all about the babes."
Deutsch no longer has flattering things to say about Trump and now calls him a "sociopath."
Later in the book, Deutsch talks about how he told his "buddy" Harvey Weinstein to get into shape.
"What fun is it knowing that all the chicks want to sleep with you for one reason only? Takes the fun out of it," Deutsch says he told Weinstein. Weinstein has since been accused by over 80 women of sexual harassment, assault, and rape, which many have described as a "known secret" in Hollywood.
The Weinstein scandal has led to a cascade of sexual harassment victims coming forward. This week Sen. Al Franken (D., Minn.) was accused of unwanted kissing and groping a woman while she slept, which prompted the panel on Morning Joe Friday.
Deutsch was praised for "insight, candor, and depth" on the subject, which he said was a "tough topic but a necessary one."
MSNBC host Mika Brzezinski pressed Deutsch on his past behavior of women. Deutsch had said, "there will be casualties, and that should happen" when lines are crossed.
However, Deutsch said his past behavior toward women, without naming details, should be excused because of his "lifetime of feminism."
"Here's the tough question then," said Brzezinski. "Do you worry, do you know, do you feel that the way you were around—the way you were around women 30 years ago is a little different, Donny, than the way you are now."
"A million percent," he said. "A million percent."
"Exactly," Brzezinski said. "So should you be brought down for the way you were 30 years ago? I want to know."
"Every incident is—should I be brought down if I tried to kiss a woman, should my life end because I did that 30 years ago?" Deutsch said. "I would hope not. But I think everything is contextualized."
"And in my case, a lifetime of feminism, and blah blah blah, loving women, and elevating women versus a man who for his entire lifetime was chasing underage children, everything has to be contextualized," he said.
Request for comment from MSNBC and Deutsch's representative were not immediately returned.
MSNBC has already severed ties with one contributor over past allegations of sexual misconduct. Mark Halperin, a Morning Joe regular was accused of propositioning junior staffers, groping, and pressing his erection against women while working for ABC. The network cut ties with Halperin last month.
Two years ago, Deutsch made colleagues on Morning Joe uncomfortable when he approached Brzezinski and gave her a kiss on the cheek on-air. "That was weird," said fellow guest Dan Senor.
"Come on, you felt something," Deutsch told Brzezinski. "You felt something. I felt something."
Update 4:30 p.m.: This post has been updated with further information.