Congressman Brian Baird, D-Vancouver, has issued an apology for his remarks equating the actions of some opponents to health care reform as “close to brown shirt” and has announced five town hall meetings to discuss the issue.

    Baird raised the ire of many constituents and political opponents last week when he told The Columbian newspaper that he would not hold town hall meetings on health care due to the “lynch-mob” mentality of many of those attending similar meetings. He said he and others had received threats, and that the demonstrations were destructive to democracy.

    The remarks garnered demands for an apology, which Baird ultimately delivered in a four-page letter released by his staff today.

    “In the heat of the moment, I compared threats and disruptive tactics to ‘brown shirt’ tactics and a ‘lynch mob’ atmosphere,” he wrote. “At no point, did I compare opponents to health care reform to ‘Nazis,’ certainly I do not believe that to the case. Nevertheless, my words were unfortunate and I regret them. I understand how people who have legitimate concerns about health care or other policies came to feel that I was speaking about them personally rather than about the specific tactic and rhetoric of a few. I also appreciate that any reference to ‘brown shirts’ or ‘Timothy McVeigh,’ on either side, left or right, is itself inflammatory and counterproductive. Again, I regret that and apologize for it.”

    Baird made a comment comparing the behavior of some town hall protesters to McVeigh on the Rachel Maddow Show on MSNBC.

    In the release, Baird said he will hold five town hall meetings on health care, and the events will be held at large venues. Speakers will be chosen via a random lottery performed by an independent observer, and will be held to three minutes at the podium, according to the release.

    Only one meeting has been scheduled thus far. It will be held in Clark County at the Skyview High School auditorium Tuesday from 7 to 9 p.m. The school is located at 1300 NW 139th Street in Vancouver.

    The four other locations are yet to be determined.