(Note: It was announced shortly after 7 pm ET that Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones, D-Ohio, had died.)
by Andrew Zajac
Cleveland-area Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones is in critical condition after suffering an aneurysm last night.
The Plain Dealer and other news outlets this afteroon briefly reported that Tubbs-Jones, 58, the first black woman to represent Ohio in Congress, had died.
But officials subsequently said Tubbs Jones is alive but has limited brain function.
Tubbs Jones gained a measure of notoriety earlier this year with her staunch support of Hillary Clinton in the Democratic presidential primary, despite representing a heavily black district which tilted to Barack Obama.
Here's a recent update on Tubbs Jones from AP, plus more on her controversial support for Clinton:
EAST CLEVELAND, Ohio (AP) -- Democratic U.S. Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones, the first black woman to represent Ohio in Congress, had a brain hemorrhage and was in critical condition with limited brain function, a doctor said Wednesday.
Tubbs Jones, 58, suffered the hemorrhage while driving her car in Cleveland Heights on Tuesday, said Dr. Gus Kious, president of Huron Hospital in East Cleveland. The congresswoman had been driving erratically and her vehicle crossed lanes of traffic before coming to a stop, police said.
The hemorrhage was in an inaccessible part of the congresswoman's brain, Kious said during a news conference. A team of doctors who evaluated her determined she has limited brain function.
Family friend Joe Hewitt asked people to pray for the congresswoman.
Tubbs Jones, elected in 1998, was one of Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's biggest boosters during the primaries and is to be a superdelegate at next week's Democratic National Convention in Denver.
Tubbs Jones represents the heavily Democratic 11th District and chairs the ethics committee in the House. She's the first black woman to serve on the powerful Ways and Means Committee, where she opposed President Bush's tax cuts and his efforts to create personal accounts within Social Security.
Several news organizations, including The Associated Press, had earlier reported that Tubbs Jones had died. The AP cited a Democratic official.
The reports prompted Sen. John Kerry to issue a statement mourning her passing.
And here is more on the controversy over Tubbs-Jones' support for Clinton:
(Photo: Rep. Stephanie Tubbs-Jones at a forum on renewing American manufacturing in Cleveland. AP Photo/Mark Duncan, File)
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Comments
My thoughts and prayers are with Congresswoman Tubbs-Jones and her family. She is a true champion for fairness and represents all that is great about our nation.
Posted by: Bemused | August 20, 2008 5:57 PM
During the primary I always enjoyed hearing her give interviews, she was a very classy and elegant lady, but I loved how she could step up and not allow anyone interviewing her to attempt to bend her words or talk over her. My heartfelt sympathies are extended to her family and friends, this is a great loss.
Posted by: vla | August 20, 2008 8:30 PM
Rest In Peace, Representative. Your courage fighting for Hillary will not be forgotten.
Posted by: Jeff | August 21, 2008 12:55 AM
Stephanie Tubbs Jones, the first black woman to represent Ohio in Congress.Stephanie Tubbs Jones was scheduled to attend the Democratic National Convention next week in Denver, Colorado, as a superdelegate..I find this shocking, I find it disturbing.According to an ancient tradition, God preserves humanity despite its many transgressions because at any one period there exist 10 just individuals who, without being aware of their role, redeem mankind.She was good friend and associate,We are here today to say goodbye to a great American.She belonged to a generation that measured people by their honesty and their courage.Good Bye my friend, you shall be remembered and missed.Stephanie was one of a kind, and we will miss our friend forever.
Ramesh C. Manghirmalani,
Posted by: Ramesh Manghirmalani | August 21, 2008 8:16 PM