Stephanie Tubbs Jones in Critical Condition (Updated)

Update. It's confirmed: Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones (D-OH) has passed away. This is the official statement:

Tubbs Jones Family, Huron Hospital and Cleveland Clinic

August 20, 2008 - 6:40 p.m.

"Throughout the course of the day and into this evening, Congresswoman Tubbs Jones' medical condition declined. Medical doctors and neurosurgeons from Huron Hospital and Cleveland Clinic sadly report that at 6:12 p.m. Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones died.

She dedicated her life in public service to helping others and will continue to do so through organ donations.

Please keep her family and friends in your thoughts and prayers during this very difficult time."

RIP.

More reactions at Memeorandum.

*****

Contrary to earlier reports, she's still alive but in critical condition:

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.

She's a staunch supporter of Hillary Clinton for president, and of John Kerry four years before.

Her Wiki page reminded me of this:

On January 6, 2005, she joined U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) in objecting to the certification of the 2004 U.S. presidential election results for Ohio.

As the sponsor, she was one of the 31 who voted in the House to not count the electoral votes from Ohio in the 2004 election.

What a courageous, traiblazing woman. Though her prospects look dire, here's hoping for her full recovery.

More on her here and here.

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