CLARKSTON - Tempers flared as hundreds of people filed through heavy security Monday to pack one of the first metro Atlanta town hall meetings on the hot issue of overhauling the nation's costly health care system.

Critics seized every opportunity to jeer Rep. Hank Johnson and others, booing their remarks throughout. Supporters eagerly countered, wasting no chance to show their backing for the landmark health care legislation.

Johnson and other Democrats are hoping to use the August recess to try to earn more public support for President Barack Obama's top domestic policy initiative. Similar town-hall meetings around the nation have been marred by high-profile protests.

Some Republicans have seized on the protests and made-for-YouTube moments as a signal that Democrats lack support for the plan. Democratic leaders counter that the protests have been ginned up by the Republican Party and national conservative groups.

Johnson vowed his event, conducted at a small college in suburban Atlanta, would stay civil. About 15 security officers - about three times the normal detail - fanned out, and metal detectors greeted residents wanting a seat at the event.

Repeated warnings against shouting and cheering were frequently ignored.

The atmosphere grew testy when Sean Mangieri asked Johnson to point out whether the Constitution gave the government the authority to provide health care. He and two friends were soon surrounded by campus police officers and, as Johson drew applause saying there was "sound legal footing" for the bill, the three were quickly escorted out.

"We have a lot of people tired of being abused by the federal government," said Mangieri, a private tutor in Atlanta, outside the crowded auditorium. "I'm tired of being plundered and abused by bureaucratic yes-men like this Democratic party hack."

The rest of the event was marked by a familiar back-and-forth, as comments about the need for a public insurance option prompted loud ovations from supporters, while talk of personal responsibility and fears of government-controlled health care drew spirited cheers from opponents.

Dr. Sandra Ford, DeKalb County's public health director, was interrupted briefly as she rattled off statistics about the county's health problems and high obesity rate.

"It's not our fault," came the cry from someone in the crowd.

"Do we need reform?" Ford continued. "We need some kind of change."

Dr. Todd Williamson, a neurologist who leads the Medical Association of Georgia, drew a standing ovation from opponents who filled about half the room when he said the doctor's lobby is opposed to a public health insurance option.

"With a clear competitive advantage, it would force many people to lose their insurance," he said. "We're afraid the creation of a public option will lead to the creation of a single-payer."

Johnson heard emotional testimony from residents complaining of lofty premiums, medical mishaps and rejection letters from insurance companies. He also heard from constituents worried they would lose control over their health care plan if the government waded into the issue.

Johnson, for one, said he was worried that changes supported by conservative Democrats have "watered down and eviscerated" the measure. But he said he was likely to vote for the change to fix a "broken system" that leaves millions uninsured if he's given the chance.

"It remains to be seen whether we're going to have health care reform if Republicans become successful at riling everybody up," he said to a fresh outburst of cheers and jeers. "Republicans had been in office for eight years and they did absolutely nothing on health care."