Tributes to Tubbs Jones roll in

[babylonsister]

http://www.swamppolitics.com/news/politics/blog/2008/08/tubbs_jones_tributes.html

Tributes to Tubbs Jones roll in
Posted August 21, 2008 10:45 AM

The Swamp
by Andrew Zajac


Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones, a Cleveland-area Democrat who gained a measure of national notoriety for her staunch support of Hillary Clinton despite representing a heavily black, pro-Barack Obama district, died Wednesday.

Tubbs Jones, 58, was hospitalized last night after suffering an aneurysm.

Beyond the tragedy of early, unexpected death, Tubbs Jones' passing heaps further difficulties on a Democratic Party in Cuyahoga County already reeling from a massive federal corruption investigation targeting two of the county party's top officials.

From the perspective of presidential politics, it increases the challenge of turning out the big Democratic vote needed in northern Ohio to carry the Republican-leaning Buckeye state.

Tubbs Jones was five-term incumbent cruising to a sixth-term. A one-time prosecutor and protege of former Rep. Louis Stokes, Tubbs Jones held the unsung but politically sensitive post of chair of the Standards of Official Conduct Committee -- the House's ethics police.

"She poured her heart and soul into her job," said Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio). "She worked so hard and gave everything she could. I'm devastated. Wherever we'd go, we'd speak of each other as brother and sister. It's an incalculable loss."

The Clintons released a statement saying Tubbs Jones was a "one-woman force for progress in our country" and their friendship with her "deepened through every trial and challenge."

"Over the course of many years, with many ups and many downs, Stephanie was right by our side -- unwavering, indefatigable," they said.

Sen. Barack Obama released a statement calling Tubbs Jones "an extraordinary American and an outstanding public servant."

"It wasn't enough for her just to break barriers in her own life. She was also determined to bring opportunity to all those who had been overlooked and left behind -- and in Stephanie, they had a fearless friend and unyielding advocate," Obama said.

[GreenPartyVoter]

1. She passed??? Oh, I am so sorry to hear that!

[babylonsister]

2. Yes, yesterday. I'm sorry, too.

:cry:

[barbtries]

3. she had flown below my radar before yesterday,

yet today i'm sitting at my desk crying because she died.