Update [2008-8-20 15:13:31 by BooMan]: New reporting is that Ms. Tubbs Jones is still alive but in very poor condition.
I am really, really sorry to hear this news:
U.S. Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones, the first African-American woman to represent Ohio in Congress, has died after suffering a brain aneurysm, said sources familiar with the situation.
She was removed from life support at 12:19 p.m. at Huron Road Hospital, the sources said.
Tubbs Jones, 58, served as a Cuyahoga County judge and prosecutor before succeeding U.S. Rep. Louis Stokes. She has served five terms in Congress and is expected to easily win her sixth in November.
Ms. Tubbs Jones was a colorful, funny, vibrant, engaging, and progressive voice in our national politics. She was one of Hillary Clinton’s most ardent supporters, but she advocated for her candidate in a completely respectful and positive way. She was the Chair of the House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct (Ethics Committee). Our thoughts are with her friends and family. We’ve lost a wonderful representative and a great person.
Amen.
Such sad news. There are conflicting reports right now – CNN just had a live press conference during which the doctor and a family representative said she is in critical condition – and still alive.
I saw that from Atrios. Odd.
She’s not dead. She’s in critical condition.
I don’t know which outlet it was, but they’ve gotten it wrong and should have verified this as fact before running with it.
Yes, do update. Only CNN ran with the lead that she had passed, but quickly pulled it. According to the news conference, she’s still on life support.
yep, tons of misinformation out there (which I am guilty of spreading some of it…) My heart is breaking for her family, what a terrible ordeal.
The Plain Dealer changed their story to report she is in critical condition and removed the initial report of her passing. I sure hope she has a chance of making it through – the info from the doctor does not sound good, though.
Family and hospital have now confirmed that she has passed. There is a place to send condolences at the link.
She became the congressperson after we left. She was the city attorney, I believe, prior to congress.
She was a great person. I never met her, but she was a positive force in the City of Cleveland.
Rest in Peace, Stephanie Tubbs Jones. We will miss you very much.
There are few if any left in the political world that I would consider as achieving my criteria for hero status, but Ms. Jones definetily earned my eternal gratitude for having the integrity and courage to stand up for Ohio and for the nation to make a formal protest of the 04 election.
When my deep cynicism is questioned it’s because of events like this that I’ve set aside nearly all hope that this downward spiral can be reversed. You cannot fight a war without warriors.