Congressman: I’ve got facts on my side, you’ve got Glenn Beck

One lawmaker invoked the controversial conservative television host Glenn Beck in a town hall meeting, deriding claims about healthcare reform fueled by the pundit.

Rep. Rick Larsen (D-Wash.) defended the healthcare proposal before Congress during a town hall meeting at a baseball stadium Wednesday night. During that meeting, he suggested a constituent’s worries were fueled by the work of Beck, who has made angry and occasionally strange allegations about Democrats’ healthcare reform initiatives.

“With regards to the first comment about being forced to buy healthcare…the bill does not force people to change their healthcare plan,” Larsen said in response to a question about whether the health bill would nationalize healthcare.

“Folks will say that’s not true, but I’ve got facts on my side, and you’ve got Glenn Beck on your side,” Larsen quipped.

Larsen insisted that Americans would only be forced to participate in the healthcare exchange, and not forced to change their plan.

The Washington Democrat had actually moved his town hall to his city’s minor league baseball stadium over concerns about the turnout for the district meeting.

Watch a video of the exchange below: