ANDERSON COOPER: Jeffrey Lord, you hear what Cornell says, did that exchange at all raise your eyebrows, at all?
JEFFREY LORD: No, and I'll tell you why. I have a lot of respect for Cornell, we disagree though on this. I mean, I have to say, first of all, the network that she works for, that April Ryan works for, advertises itself as the only African-American-owned radio station. In other words, it's all about being African-American. So, in that context, he asked the question. You know, this is the problem here. I mean, I frankly -- I used to think the Congressional Black Caucus, when it was first formed, was a good thing. I changed my mind on this. I don't think there should be any caucuses in the House of Representatives that are divided by race. I mean, heaven forbid if David Duke got elected and wanted to form a congressional white caucus, that would just be appalling. Appalling. This is where we get into a problem, and it's got to stop.
COOPER: Cornell?
CORNELL BROOKS: Sir, um, Jeffrey, that is -- I'm looking for a word here, beyond -- it's completely preposterous to compare the Klan to the Congressional Black Caucus. The congressional black caucus is --
LORD: No, I'm comparing dividing by race.
BROOKS: It's not a matter of dividing by race, it's a matter of affirming racial justice issues --
LORD: So you would be okay with a congressional white caucus?
BROOKS: Beg your pardon?
LORD: You would be okay with a Congressional White Caucus? Really?
BROOKS: I didn't say that. What I would be comfortable with --
LORD: I hope not!
BROOKS: Is a caucus aligned around issues, a caucus aligned around advancing the concerns of groups that are frequently locked out of the process. That's how the Congressional Black Caucus came into being. And frankly, sir, you should apologize for even putting the Klan and the Congressional Black Caucus in the same sentence.
LORD: No, no, no, no, no, no, no -- don't go there.
