A Strong Woman

• filed under Misc.

I heard the phrase “strong woman” a lot during the last 18 months.  You don’t often hear people call someone a “strong man” — maybe because in our culture it would be considered redundant.

I prefer to think that we reserve a special place for those women of unusual courage and conviction.  They are the women who keep family and communities together, who aren’t afraid to speak their mind, but always with love.

Stephanie Tubbs Jones was a strong woman.  I was priviliged to know her during the Hillary campaign, where she was our most stalwart supporter and advocate.  She traveled with Hillary and for her.  She was always available to serve as a surrogate, not just when the news was good, but when it was bad.  She believed in Hillary and in this country; more importantly, she believed in herself and her own convictions.

It was not easy being one of Hillary Clinton’s highest profile African-American surrogates and supporters, but Stephanie Tubbs Jones did it with grace and humor, unafraid of the consequnces for herself and her political career.

The campaign staff loved her because she never flagged and never wavered.  When we faltered, she always lifted our spirits.

And she always told it like it was.

When I missed a briefing with Congressional supporters she read me the riot act, telling me she could kick my rear because I knew that she loved me.  When we screwed up she was always there with strong, constructive and good advice.

I will miss her emails and her voice on my cell phone.

I will miss one of the strongest women I have ever met.

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