Sen. Joe Manchin (D., W.V.) was forced to apologize on Wednesday at a town hall meeting in Parkersburg, West Virginia, after he addressed a female town hall attendee as "honey."
Manchin was discussing Planned Parenthood and the Hyde Amendment, as it relates to the allocation of federal funds going toward health care services instead of abortion services. After defining the Hyde Amendment, a female attendee interrupted him.
"It doesn't, it doesn't. It pays for their health care," the woman shouted, referring to funds given to Planned Parenthood.
"I know, honey. I know. I understand," Manchin said.
It is unclear what audience members subsequently said, but unsettled murmuring broke out amongst the crowd, which caused Manchin to walk back his comment. Manchin tried to apologize, but was interrupted again by the same woman.
"You said that to a pussy hat," the lady said, receiving lots of laughter.
Manchin apologized again, saying that his grandfather used to call everyone "honey."
"So I'm sorry. I don't mean that in a derogatory way," Manchin added.
The "pussy hat" the woman was wearing is a popular accessory among many women in the anti-Trump movement, according to the Huffington Post.
The Pussyhat Project, which launched over Thanksgiving, is the brainchild of two friends and recreational knitters: screenwriter Krista Suh and architect Jayna Zweiman.[...]
This accessibility is an essential component of the project, the women say. It’s not just about making a strong visual statement on the day of the march, or offering up a symbolic rebuke of Trump’s infamous "grab them by the pussy" comment, though that’s definitely a factor. It’s also about giving people who aren’t able to march for physical, financial or other logistical barriers a concrete way to take part.