Beck: A "sick part of me ... would just love to see" Al Sharpton and Strom Thurmond related

On the March 7 edition of CNN Headline News' Glenn Beck, host Glenn Beck and Rev. Al Sharpton discussed the recent discovery by a team of genealogists that Sharpton's ancestors were slaves owned by relatives of the late Sen. Strom Thurmond (R-SC), who ran for president in 1948 on a segregationist platform. During the segment, Sharpton questioned suggestions that Thurmond "moderated his segregationist views in his older age," asking, "Well, when did he denounce it?" Beck then told Sharpton: "There's part of me -- a sick part of me -- that would just love to see you two related in DNA."

From the March 8 edition of CNN Headline News' Glenn Beck:

BECK: But it wouldn't have -- I couldn't imagine knowing that guy was the guy whose family owned me.

SHARPTON: Well, of course, that adds --

BECK: It would have been just --

SHARPTON: -- that adds salt to the wound. But you know what amazes me, is the press says that he moderated his segregationist views in his older age. Well, when did he denounce it? He's -- I've never seen Strom Thurmond say, "I was wrong. I'm going to do what I can to correct it." I mean, the media, you guys, sanitize anything. It's ridiculous.

BECK: I have to tell you, because you know I love you, but I disagree with almost everything you say. There's part of me -- a sick part of me -- that would just love to see you two related in DNA.

SHARPTON: Well, at least you said it was a sick part of you, and I understand that -- may you be healed one day, Glenn.

BECK: Thank you, sir.

SHARPTON: Thank you.

—K.H.