Liberal outrage over a 'racist' hand signal at Kavanaugh hearing undermined by one fact

Left-wing social media exploded into a firestorm of accusations after a white supremacist hand signal was supposedly made at the congressional hearings for Brett Kavanaugh.

'What a national outrage'

The outrage was so virulent that it made Zina Bash, the name of the alleged perpetrator, trend nationally on Twitter for several hours Tuesday. Bash is an attorney and a former clerk for Kavanaugh.

The woman sitting behind Kavanaugh giving what appears to be a white supremacist "Pepe" salute has been identified as Zina Bash, member of Trump's transition, domestic policy, and now SCOTUS team pic.twitter.com/1bJlzV3yLG

— Tommy Christopher (@tommyxtopher) September 4, 2018

The uproar began when screenshots and videos were posted to Twitter showing Bash allegedly flashing the "OK sign," which many believe to be an "alt-right" or white supremacist signal.

But the narrative was undermined by the fact that Bash's father is a Jewish Polish-American whose parents escaped Nazi persecution in Germany, and her mother is an immigrant from Mexico. Bash, 36, is identified as a Republican from McAllen, Texas.

That did not prevent many on the left to keep slinging accusations at Bash.

"Kavanaugh’s former law clerk Zina Bash is flashing a white power sign behind him during his Senate confirmation hearing," said Eugene Gu, a surgeon who became famous when he sued Trump. "They literally want to bring white supremacy to the Supreme Court. What a national outrage and a disgrace to the rule of law."

More context for the Zina Bash incident during the Kavanaugh Hearing-she is sitting normally, then checks her phone to read something (some are saying a text but we have no confirmation), then she holds the pose at issue for over 30 seconds with a slight smirk. You be the judge. pic.twitter.com/CTmNLTXGHp

— Amee Vanderpool (@girlsreallyrule) September 5, 2018

The "OK" hand sign originated on 4Chan, a website known for inventing spoofs and jokes intended to undermine the credibility of establishment media. Members pretended the symbol had racist undertones, while "alt-right" friendly elements in the media employed the symbol to create hysteria.

A 'vicious conspiracy theory'

Bash's husband, who is a U.S Attorney for the Western District of Texas, excoriated the critics of his wife through his Twitter account.

"The attacks today on my wife are repulsive," John Bash said. "Everyone tweeting this vicious conspiracy theory should be ashamed of themselves. We weren’t even familiar with the hateful symbol being attributed to her for the random way she rested her hand during a long hearing."

"Zina is Mexican on her mother’s side and Jewish on her father’s side," he continued. "She was born in Mexico. Her grandparents were Holocaust survivors. We, of course, have nothing to do with hate groups, which aim to terrorize and demean other people — never have and never would."

"I know that there are good folks on both sides of the political divide," he concluded. "I hope that people will clearly condemn this idiotic and sickening accusation."

Many on the right mocked the left for being so gullible to fall for the conspiracy theory.

"So, I've checked in with Twitter to see that "Zina Bash" is trending," said Jay Nordlinger of National Review. "Huh. I know her. Why is she trending? She made a white-supremacist hand gesture?"

"This is the nuttiest, stupidest allegation in the history of the world (or at least tied for)," he added. "Really, y'all: Get a life."