Most of you know that a pretty unnerving moment took place as the House was voting to end the government shutdown and stave off default, a House stenographer stormed to the mic and went into an unhinged rant about Freemasons and the Constitution. The woman was hauled off the floor even as she continued to scream, and was taken in for an evaluation.
Well, earlier today, that woman spoke out about why she did what she did. Dianne Reidy emailed Faux News Capitol Hill reporter Chad Peagram to say that God told her to do it.
Per Kaplan/Pergram-Capitol Hill
Karrah Kaplan spoke with the husband of House stenographer Dianne Reidy last night. There’s an emailed statement here from Dan Reidy.
First, from Dianne:
“For the past 2 and 1/2 weeks, the Holy Spirit has been waking me up in the
middle of the night and preparing me (through my reluctance and doubt) to deliver
a message in the House Chamber.
That is what I did last night”
Wow. Talk about disturbing. Almost as disturbing is this comment from her husband.
Her husand Dan says “My wife is a sweet, level-headed wonderful woman of God. I am proud of her.”
You're proud of her? You're proud of her? She goes completely unhinged on national TV, and you're proud?
Apparently Dan Reidy isn't the only one who's completely out of touch on this. You can add Fox and Friends' Elisabeth Hasselbeck to the list as well. When Steve Doocy read a couple of emails that suggested that Reidy was being persecuted for her beliefs, Hasselbeck was nodding along in agreement. And the majority of the comments on Fox Nation are clapping along in applause, rather than recognizing that this woman may need some help. Indeed, congressmen from both sides of the aisle who know her were pretty shaken by the experience and say this is way out of character for her.
This reality-based charismatic/pentecostal is shaking his head in disgust--and at the same time, praying that she gets the help she badly needs.
4:19 PM PT: Since this made the rec list, I thought I'd mention that Chicago Sun-Times Washington bureau chief Lynn Sweet shot a video of Reidy in the elevator after being led off the floor. She was still ranting about Freemasons. Watch here. Any doubt that this woman needs serious help is now gone--I hope she does get the help she needs.