When I read your headline about "family wants senator in rehab," I first thought it was
referring to someone else.
You have to admit, it was an honest mistake.
Posted on 05/24/2007 7:38:06 AM PDT by SmithL
State Sen. Ophelia's Ford family plans to encourage her to enter rehab this weekend, according to her brother, Shelby County Commissioner Joe Ford.
"I've come to the conclusion that there's a problem. Whether it's drugs, alcohol or anemia, there needs to be rehab," he said Wednesday afternoon.
If Sen. Ford doesn't return to Memphis today for the weekend, as most Shelby County legislators do, Joe Ford said another brother, Melvin, plans to drive to Nashville on Friday to get her.
Joe Ford said the family plans to meet with the Democratic state senator over the weekend to urge her to enter rehab.
Ophelia Ford has drawn attention to her behavior by missing multiple Senate sessions, blaming her absences on chronic anemia. She raised eyebrows on May 14 in a legislative committee meeting with an tirade against the state Department of Children's Services commissioner and three other state officials.
A day later, she reportedly fell off a bar stool in the concierge lounge at the Sheraton Nashville Downtown Hotel, sending her to an overnight stay in the hospital. A worker at the hotel told ambulance dispatchers that the guest, reportedly Ford, was "extremely intoxicated," according to the recording of the 911 emergency call.
Ophelia Ford attributed the hospital trip to "fatigue" and "low blood."
Commissioner Ford said he has reached out to his sister's Senate colleagues via the media to encourage them to ask her to enter rehab.
He said he hoped his sister would see that she needs help, but addicts "gotta want to help themselves."
In Nashville on Wednesday, with TV cameras following her, Ophelia Ford was back at work, voting to keep the University of Tennessee, the state Department of Education and the State Board of Education in existence.
Ford attended the Shelby County legislative delegation's weekly meeting -- where Memphis developer Henry Turley unveiled a proposal to redevelop the city's fairgrounds area -- and the Senate Government Operations Committee.
That committee and its House counterpart are in charge of recommending to the full legislature which state agencies and institutions continue in existence under Tennessee's Governmental Entity Performance Review Act. The law requires the General Assembly to periodically "renew" state entities -- or they go out of existence.
Wednesday's committee agenda included bills renewing the University of Tennessee, Department of Education and State Board of Education. Ford voted in favor of keeping all three.
Afterward, Ford was asked to comment on her brother Joe Ford's remarks about her health issues. She said she is "focused on education funding" and Gov. Phil Bredesen's proposed improvements in the Basic Education Program, now under review by the legislature. She said she would not comment on anything else.
The legislature is in its final two or three weeks, with several major issues still hanging in the balance, including the governor's school proposals that could mean about $70 million a year more for Memphis and Shelby County Schools.
The Senate is split with 16 Democrats, 16 Republicans and one Independent member. Senate Democratic Leader Jim Kyle said Wednesday that Ford's continued presence is "crucial" to the outcome of several issues.
Joe Ford said he hopes his sister gets help, particularly after fulfilling her longtime desire to become an elected official. But, "addiction has no timing. Alcohol, drugs, any addiction ... it don't care," he said.
And don’t forget the apology.
It has to be Rehab and an apology, or it doesn’t count.
Sounds like he's ready to install a keg at senate sessions to keep her vote there.
But she wasn’t drunk she is anemic, and that is why she fell off a stool in the BAR. lol
When I read your headline about "family wants senator in rehab," I first thought it was
referring to someone else.
You have to admit, it was an honest mistake.
I tell ya, our TN Fords are an endless source of entertainment ain’t they? The hits just keep on comin’!
“low blood.”
True. It had been replaced by alcohol!
There is: "Room 101"
I don’t know, but it looks to me like rehab centers are just a fancy name for hideouts for democrats. And celebrities. Why does being “in rehab” stop all prosecution of these people?
Continuous review. What a concept!
Geritol?
She didn't have enough iron in her blood to hold her body up, and that*s why she fell off the bar stool. LOL
The family's present concern smacks more of damage control than of consideration for the voters or her district.
The Ford’s keep us in stitch's in Memphis.
Could have been the gal from Calif. as well. Migden, I think her name is. Same story almost word for work, except she was running over people on the freeway.
Kyle is a dumba$$, she hasn’t spent more than 7-10 days in the senate the whole session.
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