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.
DON’T EVER SAY ANYTHING ABOUT THE FORD’S AND THE BUSH’S IN THE SAME BREATH!
Prosecution for WHAT? Falling off a bar stool is not a crime, it's just stupid.
Perhaps "public intoxication" laws could be used, but in general the police only use these laws to jail loud, obnoxious drunks who are being a pain in the butt.
We don't know if the bartender was serving her, in her intoxicated state, or if she was drinking somewhere else previously.
If the former I think the bartender should be given a talking to. It's not smart to serve people who are visibly intoxicated, and illegal too in many states.
If this is frequent behaviour a rehab clinic is exactly where she belongs. Regardless of her politics I hope she and her family are successful in getting her into recovery.
You are a great deal more sympathetic and perhaps gullible than I am perpared to be here.
This story aint hittin on nuthin with me. It’s just dummmbbbbbbbbbbbbbbb. And I am low on blood.
Absolvem?
I’ve got 3rd conjugation for absolvo, absolvere....
Future indicative or Present subjunctive would be
absolvam
Present indicative would be absolvo.
Thanks. I stand corrected. It’s been nearly 2000 years since I’ve spoken Latin, and I was very young back then.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.