EVERETT, Wash. -- A town hall meeting about health care sparked angry confrontations and debate even before the event began at a stadium in Everett on Wednesday, KIRO 7 Eyewitness News reported.

About 2,500 people showed up for the event organized by Rep. Rick Larsen. The crowd was expected to be so large that the meeting was moved to the Aquasox Ballpark at Everett Memorial Stadium located at 3900 Broadway in Everett.

During the meeting Larsen stood in the field and took questions from the crowd.

Two hours before the town hall began, the opposing sides met in the Everett stadium parking lot.

In contrast to other events around the country, we saw those in favor of the Obama health care initiative start shouting first, said KIRO 7 Eyewitness News reporter Essex Porter.

"I don't think it's right to scream and yell for any kind of debate or any kind of discussion as important as health care, but we didn't start that, they did," said Bob Fletcher of Lynnwood.

Those against the Obama plan were quick to point out the other side's rudeness.

"All the media says we're the ones yelling being boisterous, being rude," said an opponent of the plan. "Scan around."

Nationwide, the strident, frustrated and angry tone to the debate over health care reform continued Wednesday.

Rep. Brian Baird, D-Wash., apologized for comments he made at recent a town hall meeting. See complete story.

In State College, Pa., Sen. Arlen Specter sought to defuse tensions with a few jokes.

He said he's been "able to find a few lighter moments ... to ease up on some of the pressure." But he said he doesn't want to "overdo it" or trivialize the subject.

In Iowa, Republican Sen. Charles Grassley said only people who are in the country legally should be covered by a government funded health care program. Grassley also said he's opposed to any plan that, in his words, "determines when you're going to pull the plug on grandma."

Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin has said the legislation includes "death panels" that could deny care for the elderly and people with Down syndrome.

Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska said no such thing exists in the bill, and there's no reason to "gin up fear" in the American public by saying there is. She urged critics to stop telling lies about what the bill includes.