David Brooks Admits Being Fondled by Anonymous Republican Senator

Author and New York Times' columnist David Brooks made an expected comment Friday on MSNBC today, saying that he was inappropriately touched by a Republican senator during a dinner party.

The comments came during a particularly lively experience by Brooks on MSNBC today, co-hosted by John Harwood and Norah O'Donnell. Brooks was on the show talking about a recent op-ed he wrote in The New York Times titled, "In Search of Dignity." Norah O'Donnell, referring to the lack of dignity among politicians, asks Brooks, "Well, what has happened?" Brooks responds:

You know, all three of us spend a lot of time covering politicians and I don’t know about you guys, but in my view, they’re all emotional freaks of one sort or another. They’re guaranteed to invade your personal space, touch you. I sat next to a Republican senator once at dinner and he had his hand on my inner thigh the whole time. I was like, ehh, get me out of here.

In a quick and awkward exchange, Hardwood responds, "what?" and Brooks adds, "I can only imagine what happens to you guys." O'Donnell then asks, "Sorry, who was that?" Brooks responds, "I’m not telling you, I’m not telling you." Brooks continues, referring to male politicians:

they’re like freaks, they don’t know how to, they’re lonely. They reach out. I’ve spoken to a lot of young women who are Senate staffers and they’ll have these middle age guys who are sort of in the middle of a mid-life crisis. Emotionally needy, they don’t know how to do it and sort of like these St. Bernards drooling everywhere. And you find a lot of this happens in mid-life and among very powerful people who are extremely lonely.

Brooks reason for the lively banter, "I'm just trying not to be too dignified and stuffy."