Posted on 05/19/2007 10:10:10 PM PDT by SmithL
MEMPHIS - State Sen. Ophelia Ford says a chronic health condition and eating problems caused her to fall from a bar stool at a Nashville hotel, while a 911 call recording indicates that she may have been intoxicated.
Ford, who was taken to a hospital Tuesday and kept overnight, told WMC-TV that she has been struggling with anemia and hasn't been eating well. She dismissed reports that she was intoxicated Tuesday night.
"I might have a glass of wine, but I'm sorry, that ain't true," she said. "My problem is blood related and not eating."
An employee at the Sheraton Nashville Downtown Hotel, where Ford was staying while in Nashville for the legislative session, called 911 and told dispatchers that a guest had fallen from a bar chair and needed medical attention.
When a dispatcher asked the employee if the guest needed an ambulance, the man responded, "she's extremely intoxicated, so I can't tell," according to a 911 recording released by Metro Nashville Office of Emergency Management & Emergency Communications Center.
The employee said the guest was breathing normally and alert but had landed on her neck and back when she fell.
Sheraton managers declined to comment on the incident.
Ford, 56, has missed much of this year's Senate session, which is expected to last until at least the end of May, and has said her problems with anemia have kept her from working.
One day before going to the hospital, Ford shocked lawmakers and observers with an off-topic tirade that lasted nearly two minutes in a committee meeting that was focused on the state Department of Children's Services.
Ford's brother, Shelby County Commissioner Joe Ford, said that her family is very concerned.
"I want to sit down and really talk to her and find out what the problem is," he said. "What I saw on TV wasn't the sister that I know and there are some concerns. I don't know what the problem is because I haven't spoken to her because she hasn't made it home yet."
Elected to the Senate in 2005, Ford replaced her brother, John Ford, who resigned after 30 years in the Legislature following his indictment on federal corruption charges.
Republicans in the Senate later nullified the election results because of voting irregularities and ousted Ophelia Ford, but voters returned her to the Senate in November.
That clip was some kind of joke right?
The set around her appears official but the starring actress can’t be an actual elected representative can she?
Must be some kind of Saturday Night Live skit, I haven’t watched the show in years.
Sadly, I bet this woman is the real deal - elected to a position of power and all
LMAO!
Wish they hadn’t disabled comments on that YouTube clip.
I’d bet there were some ‘doozies’.
But of course. She is one of Tennessees famous Fords. As in Harold Ford Jr.
“Wish they hadn’t disabled comments on that YouTube clip.
I’d bet there were some ‘doozies’.”
Thought the same thing myself. Anyone have a screen shot from before the censors halted commentary?
I have seen a lot of intoxicated people and she is stone drunk in that video.
Yep. Infortunely she is the real deal. And her nephew Harold Ford Jr. tried to get elected to the US Senate. But of course the people in Tn got called racsist because we elected Bob Corker instead of a member of this looney family.
And here I thought my state (Minnesota) was the only place to elevate kooks like her to positions of relevance!
Just hold on, she will go away eventually and then........
along comes another one
:-(
She sure looked drunk to me.
So she goes to the bar for a screwdriver aka "da soop"?
yitbos
LMAO! She is a stone cold freakin’ wackjob. Can you imagine being on the receiving end of this? I know I would have lost my job-no way I could have kept my mouth shut when she said “you need to get yourself educated.”
that is just bizarre - words don’t do justice, and it gets weirder with every clip.
Those who haven’t seen it- go look at this piece.
Anemia “ain’t” a good mix with barstools, Ms. Ford, if anemia is what you have.
My husband has severe anemia and does not eat much, and he has never displayed any symptoms like hers.
If she is sick, then she needs to say that she can’t handle the job due to illness and pass it on to one of her nephew’s.
“My problem is blood related and not eating.”
Yeah, alcohol is carried thru the blood stream (that’s why they do a blood tox screen) when you drink on an empty stomach, the affects of alcohol happen a little sooner. so, Ophelia, if you’d have eatan some bar nuts, maybe you wouldn’t have fallen off the bar stool; you know, relating to your “blood and eating problem”
And just think that her nephew, Harold Ford Jr. is one of high muckety mucks of the Democrat party, and an employee of Fox News!
You must be talking about the muslim guy. Actually, Minnesota is my home, too. My family all still live there. I married and moved to Tennessee in 1967. I just can’t believe how liberal my beloved home has become.
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