PORTLAND (AP) — U.S. Rep. David Wu spent much of his time at a town hall meeting Tuesday repeatedly telling a heckler and other critics in the audience that their claims about plans to overhaul the nation’s health care system were misunderstood, inaccurate and even “an outrageous falsehood.”

The nation has to move forward together on health care reform or “we’re sunk,” the Oregon Democrat said.

Speakers were chosen randomly by numbers at the meeting, which was held in a small auditorium at Legacy Good Samaritan Hospital in Portland.

Some critics who spoke claimed the Obama administration was attempting to euthanize the elderly, fund abortion and provide health care to illegal immigrants under the reform plan.

“I don’t know how many times I can say it, but let me try to say it one more time — illegal aliens are not covered under these bills, period,” Wu responded.

Wu also said abortion isn’t mentioned in the plan.

A critic who identified himself only as Steve said a provision that Rep. Earl Blumenauer, D-Ore., proposed to allow patients to consult with their doctors about end-of-life care, including palliative and hospice care, would lead to euthanasia and genocide.

Wu responded, saying the man’s claim was inaccurate and damaging to public discourse.

“It is an outrageous falsehood that there is anything like what you are talking about,” Wu added. “It does not do us proud to have the discourse hijacked.”

Despite requests to be quiet, the man spent much of the remainder of the hourlong meeting heckling Wu and calling him “fascist.”

Speakers in support of health care reform included Ben Mack of Beaverton, who urged Wu “to not bow to the pressure that’s being exerted by a vocal minority in this country.”

Mack said two of his family members without health care died in the past six months and he is losing his health care after suffering a heart attack about two years ago.

“I encourage you to hit the gas and get this thing done,” Mack said. “That is the one way we can force these insurance companies to be honest with the American people and have some real competition.”

Wu, meanwhile, backtracked from criticism of health insurance companies by saying people on both sides of the debate should avoid “demonizing” opponents. He also said the issues should be debated without being personalized.

Outside the hospital, health care reform supporters and opponents lined sidewalks and held signs. Many followed comments on the meeting shared on Twitter.

John Kuzmanich of Portland, who lives in Wu’s 1st Congressional District, said he was worried the reform plan would significantly increase costs.

“I’m just unsure that putting another layer of bureaucracy between us and doctors is going to reduce costs,” Kuzmanich said. “I’ve never heard of a government program that cut costs.”

Kuzmanich, who attended a town hall meeting Wu held Monday in McMinnville, said he disagreed with the congressman but still commended him for saying openly that he would vote with “his heart” on reform even if his constituents asked him to vote against it.

Anne Slater, a reform supporter, said opponents have been using labels like “socialized medicine” and using personal attacks on politicians to distract the public from the debate.

“I think nationally that rightwing activists and the insurance companies are trying to shut down the public discourse on publicly funded health care,” Slater said, “and I think that is outrageous.”

Two more town halls are scheduled in the series, one in Seaside and another in St. Helens.