GOP Staffer Allegedly Fired Over Innocent ‘OK’ Hand Gesture

A former GOP staffer says the Indiana Republican Party fired him for sharing the “okay” sign in a photo from an event.

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The staffer, Paul Joseph Tinkle, announced Friday in an X post that he was looking for a new job in conservative politics, after being dismissed from the state’s party on Tuesday. (RELATED: Republicans Are Out Of Touch, Says GOP Senator Who Threw Capitol Hill B-Day Bash For His Dog)

Tinkle said he joined a group photo after a day of door-knocking in Hamilton County, when he was asked to put away a sign that said a candidate was endorsed by Trump.

Not knowing what to do with his hands, Tinkle put his thumb and index finger together in an “OK” shape and placed it over his chest for the photo.

While Tinkle said his goal was to convey “positive vibes,” he alleges he was told the county’s Republican chair believed Tinkle intended to “sabotage his photo.”

The chair then spoke to various members of the group, leading to Tinkle being fired before a defense could even be made.

“I pride myself as a person of character, and wish I could’ve defended myself in person,” Tinkle said.

The symbol, Tinkle later learned, was co-opted by 4chan users in 2017 as they claimed the hand sign had been a symbol of “white power” in an attempt to troll, or lead media and liberals to overreact, by conflating normal photos as a sudden nod to white supremacy, according to the Anti-Defamation League.

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However, the prank worked too well, leading to many people being fired for extremist views they did not have.

“I am shocked and upset that a universal human symbol was treated as anything but a friendly gesture,” Tinkle said.

Tinkle explained that he had spent the last three years teaching English in Japan with the U.S. Embassy and said the OK sign had transcended English and was commonly used, along with the peace sign, by many children throughout the country.

Tinkle shared two photos of him with a large class full of Japanese students, with every kid flashing the gesture.

The former staffer added that he is no longer allowed to attend any future Indiana GOP meetings but remains dedicated to the Republican cause.

“I continue to remain a loyal conservative, faithful to the Republican Party and its ideals,” Tinkle said. “As I seek employment elsewhere, I encourage everyone to still vote for all Republican-endorsed candidates on the ballot this year.”

The Indiana Republican Party and the Hamilton County Republican chair did not respond to the Daily Caller’s request for comment.

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