Wisconsin Gov. Says ‘Molotov’ in Letter Regarding Chabad Menorah Was Typo

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker has brought a whole new meaning to the notion of kindling the Chanukah flames.

When Walker, who is a top-tier contender for the GOP presidential nomination, was Milwaukee county executive, he sent a letter to one of his Jewish constituents offering support for setting up a Chabad Chanukah menorah at the local courthouse. Walker concluded by wishing the constituent “Molotov.”

According to the Madison Capital Times, which first reported the letter’s existence, it was uncovered by the liberal group One Wisconsin Now while sorting through a massive document dump from one of two separate criminal investigations into alleged campaign finance shenanigans by Walker and his circle.

Now, although Molotov cocktails are popular firestarters among certain groups, they tend not to be associated with Chanukah candles, nor do they fit with the governor’s law-and-order image. The natural assumption here would be that Walker’s intention was to wish the letter’s recipient, Milwaukee attorney Franklyn Gimbel, a frie “mazel tov,” and that the invocation of Soviet foreign minister Vyacheslav Molotov was simply a hilarious mistake. Or auto-correct disaster.

Click here to continue reading at the JTA.