Rest in Peace, My Fierce Friend: Stephanie Tubbs Jones

Stephanie Tubbs Jones was a BIG woman. She was big in her smile, in her motherly warmth, in her blackness, in her womanhood, her passion for Cleveland and in her political smarts. I am grieving her loss today.

We first met when I was working in the music industry and The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame was being built in Cleveland in the early 90's. At the time she was Cuyahoga County Prosecutor. It is hard to believe that was her job because even then, she was everywhere. Making connections, greeting visitors, sharing good stories about the local Republicans.

When she came to Congress we often went to Rock Hall events together. She had more stamina for a party than you could imagine. I will never forget the sight of her practically dancing on the tables when the Flamingos were inducted and screaming like a teenage groupie for "The Shaft" Issac Hayes another year. She was just damn fun.

I will also never forget her willingness to take on the tough fights in Congress and the jobs that others didn't want to do, whether it was Chairing the Ethics Committee; fighting Medicare cuts proposed by the Bush Administration; fighting for the minimum wage; opposing a popular ballot measure in Ohio which discriminated against gays and lesbians. She was so smart that she became a party leader right away when she was elected to Congress. Ohio needed a passionate respected Democrat for their consistently battleground elections and she fit the bill with gusto.

Most of the country got to know her this year when she was a vocal and unyielding supporter of Hillary Clinton's campaign during a primary which tore at the hearts of many black leaders. She wasn't against Barack Obama. She was just FOR Hillary. She was loyal to her girls. It was just a big motherly hug. And they will be so missed.

Comments

[afed27]

I share your sentiments on Ms. Tubbs Jones. She was a wonderful & dedicated worker for the people of our country & will be sorely missed.
My opinion of Obama is quite the opposite. On TV last night, you commented that Hillary's supporters will come around to support him. Never! I liked him, once, but soon realized that he was a great talker but a non-doer. He also spoke many untruths. People should have realized that a person who plagiarized others' words without accreditation was also apt to tell lies, in general. Obama was not rebuked. He remained the media's Golden Boy whereas Biden lost his presidential bid in 1988 for the same infraction, against the Brit. Labor Leader Neil Kinnock. Our ethics have declined greatly in 20 years.

[Celliott]

I like this piece by Hillary Rosen. I find her to be honest, and fair minded. I've also been following Stephanie Tubbs-Jones during the primary and I've appreciated her courage and respected her decision to support Hillary Clinton. As an African American woman and an avid Obama supporter, I do realize not all African Americans can or should support Barack. HIllary and Bill have been supportive of African Americans; our plight and I earnestly appreciate that. So, Tubbs-Jones' undying endorsement of Hillary was just fine with me. In fact, I've grown to respect her more with her decision to stick it out with Hillary even under pressure from other African Amercians.

This is such a historical event for African Americans after 300 years of slavery, 100 years of legalized segragration and 40 years of " living in the age of equality". The nomination of Barack is such a profound and complex phenomenon for African Americans, many want to do everything in their power to be supportive of his candidacy. But, we do need to realize that Hillary's candidacy was also a historical event permeated with complexity as well.

So, hats are off to my African American sisters who supported Hillary and decided that they were going to stick with her through the end. Tubbs-Jones' intergrity, courage, loyality is something every woman and girl should take note of. Rest in peace, stephanie and thank you for showing us how to be loyal to our girlfriends!

[afed27]

Your comments on Tubbs Jones are heart warming. I, as a fairly new Ohian, was not aware of this great American until just recently. I caught her on CSPAN, replying to a GOP congressman, & she was very impressive. I likened her to Donna Brazille whom I admire.I even had the thought that Tubbs Jones would make a great President. I didn't know at the time that she was a Hillary supporter but that increases my esteem of her.
I can understand your support of Obama but I consider him a conniving, duplicitous, liar who is being pushed, for unknown reasons, into a job that he is both unqualified for & undeserving of. I believe our country will suffer under his leadership. My opinion of McCain is the same so I will not vote for either.

[csavage]

I read about this in the paper...what a loss!
I hope our local leaders here in Houston take up the cause she stood for-so far, I have big hopes for Sheila Jackson Lee.

Rush is only an entertainer...my worry is those people who listen to his message and think that's how life should be....

[mafina]

STJ was fierce fighter for her county and she also tried to fight hard for HRC. Don't see where HRC made a public comment about STJ. HRC seems to be too busy worrying about herself and not the people that stumped for her, a colleague.

[libertyanne]

I was fortunate to meet Stephanie at an anti-war rally near the White House and
she was just at the NDC celebrating the birthday of a collegue on Karaoke night.
She was a big voice for progressive causes and it's sad that she's gone.

[lexus23ndc]

What a great lady she really was. Stephanie Tubbs Jones was someone you'd want on your side. What an advocate she was. I just can't believe she is gone. I will miss that smile. I will miss that intelligence and grace. Thanks for standing up for Hillary when no one else did. I could always count on you to go head to head with talking head Chris Matthews or Dan Abrams or Keith Olberman. As an African American male, you came off to me as a lovely mom.

I am glad I was able to see her again in Washington, DC when Hillary gave her concession speech. You could tell she was loved because when she walked into the room we all yelled her name and she made sure she shook every hand and talked to everyone.

Get your rest now Stephanie. Sleep with the lord and the angels. Eternal Rest Granted to Her Oh Lord, and let perpetual Light shine upon her.

[fignozzle]

thank you Hillary, you made me love her.

[bushlies]

A tough lady who always had a smile on her face and boundless enthusiasm for making our country better.
She will be missed.

[rgblue]

What a wonderful woman and role model for all women. She represented the best of our country, the great part of it.
Plus she had a smile that could light up a whole stadium. My condolences to her family and friends.

[dct1999]

She was a powerful, courageous sister who did a lot of good and will be truly missed. She was a wonderful advocate for her chosen candidate. Sincere condolences to her family and friends.

[HRCin08]

VIDEO TRIBUTE TO A WONDERFUL PERSON:

"My One True Friend : Stephanie Tubbs Jones (1949 - 2008)"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8iA9H-PiLmE

[LillianB]

A sad loss.

[sprite]

Thank you Hilary Rosen for a lovely tribute. I do hope Tubbs Jones will be honored at the Democratic Convention as well, with clips from her passionate speeches and a final big-screen flash of that joyful smile. Ohio seems to be blessed with honorable leaders -- Stephanie Tubbs Jones and Dennis Kucinich -- brains, balls and ovaries.

RIP, dear Stephanie. It is only your body that has gone from our midst. You, and what you stood for while you were here, will always be radiantly alive in our hearts.

[dm92]

Amen - a lovely and fitting tribute, indeed. She is a huge loss to common people in this country.

[jaydeeuno]

Condolences to her family and her constituents. It is sad that the Rush Limbaugh's of this world think more about their ratings and appealling to their "base" than they do about human decency.

[LorettaSingbiel]

"I will also never forget her willingness to take on the tough fights in Congress and the jobs that others didn't want to do, whether it was Chairing the Ethics Committee; fighting Medicare cuts proposed by the Bush Administration; fighting for the minimum wage; opposing a popular ballot measure in Ohio which discriminated against gays and lesbians."

And ... voting "NAY" to "authorize the use of United States Armed Forces against Iraq."