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Special interest groups, conservative talk radio and big businesses are to credit for recent uprisings that have occurred at town hall meetings across the country, said Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) on Thursday.

“I want fair and balanced information being shared at these meetings,” said Brown, who claimed that he was amused by the protests.

During the past week, members of both the House and Senate, from Steve Dreihaus (D-Ohio) to Arlen Specter (D-Pa.), have been confronted by inquisitive constituents who have been able to turn the forums into chant-filled debates. Democrats in Congress have responded by labeling them as mobsters.

Brown argued that town hall participants who have disputatiously engaged their elected officials are victims of a misinformation campaign led by anti-Democratic groups. Brown claimed that the campaign has extended from opposing healthcare reform to questioning President Obama’s citizenship.

“Special interests are trying to shape this bill....trying to decimate the public option...it’s not just drug and insurance companies, but they’re a big part of the resistance.”

Brown said he’s not surprised by the opposition, described by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi this week as an “astroturf” movement, disingenuously created by organizations such as Freedom Works, which is led by former GOP Congressman Dick Armey.

“They always have their way with Republicans,” joked Brown.

Brown also addressed concerns from liberals that the Senate may pass a healthcare bill without a public option, an item President Obama has demanded be included in reform. The Senate Committee on Finance, led by Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) is considering stripping the public option from the bill in an attempt to appease Republicans and moderate Democrats.

Brown divulged that he has spoken to Baucus numerous times of late, but said he isn’t pleased with how negotiations are going in that committee.

The Senator said that he’d be “very disappointed” in voting for a bill that doesn’t include a public option, but stopped short of calling it a make-or-break deal.

“I’m unwilling to say that if the public option isn’t it in, I’ll vote against it.”

Brown also questioned why President Obama hasn’t vocalized more support for a single payer insurance system, which critics argue a public option will create.