We've been telling you about him for months. He's Rabbi Daniel Lapin, the situationally ethical KTTH talk host (Sundays 7-10p) and "show rabbi" for the Christian right.
The Mercer Island ultraconservative famously introduced Tom Delay, the scandal-plagued House Majority Leader to now disgraced superlobbyist Jack Abramoff, who sits on the board (with talk jock Michael Medved) of Lapin's charity, Toward Tradition. Read blatherWatch's The Rabbi With The Tinfoil Yarmulke (And We Thought He Was Just Boring...)
Abramoff is being investigated by the Senate, the House, the Justice Department, and a federal grand jury for a plethora of questionable business practices and shady political dealings.
In Wednesday's Senate hearing into Abramoff's alleged defrauding of Indian tribes, the verity of Lapin's skewed moral compass was again exposed, this time revealing the trivial deceptive natures of both of these allegedly religious men.
Washington Post reporter Dana Milbank reported an email exchange between Abramoff and Lapin read in the hearing with Lapin agreeing to help pad Abramoff's resume:
"I hate to ask you for your help with something so silly but I've been nominated for membership in the Cosmos Club, which is a very distinguished club in Washington, DC, comprised of Nobel Prize winners, etc.," Abramoff wrote.
"Problem for me is that most prospective members have received awards and I have received none. I was wondering if you thought it possible that I could put that I have received an award from Toward Tradition with a sufficiently academic title, perhaps something like Scholar of Talmudic Studies?"
There were titters in the audience as Sen. Byron L. Dorgan (D-N.D.) read aloud the email, then outright laughter as he continued reading: "Indeed, it would be even better if it were possible that I received these in years past, if you know what I mean."
The rabbi, conservative radio host Daniel Lapin, gave his blessing. "I just need to know what needs to be produced," he wrote. "Letters? Plaques?"
Read more details of this silly, ass-kissing deception in this Seattle Post Intelligencer report.
Lapin is a leader in the national Values Community; friend of Rev. Ken Hutcherson, Pat Robertson, Jerry Falwell, Watergate felon turned preacher, Charles Colson, "spiritual advisor" of Newt Gingrich and a hard-ass, pompous, self-aggrandizing, social conservative.
He helped Hutcherson organize and spoke at last year's antigay "Mayday for Marriage " rallies in Seattle and Washington DC, that proved so influential in the November election of George W. Bush.
The haughty silver-tongued former South African buys his own radio time Sunday evenings (7-10p) from Entercom’s local KTTH. His talk show is a folksy, “(Everybody needs a rabbi,” he always says) kulturkampf, interlaced with schmaltz, advice to the lovelorn and diatribing political monologues.
He's a champion of marriage between people of the same faith, same species, but different genders, of course.
He’s didactic and condescending and speaks in paragraphs--long paragraphs. Once syndicated, his talk show proved too boring for mass consumption, so now it’s vanity radio paid for by Toward Tradition.
Pacific Northwest goyim in general have little contact with Jews, especially religious ones, so listeners gush on-air and treat him like an exotic animal--sort of their pet Jew.
This man of god not only supports family values, faithfulness, integrity, and arranged marriages; but he's also for tax cuts, property rights, cuts for social programs, and capital punishment. He opposes promiscuity, abortion, homosexuality, welfare, crime, funding the arts, gun control, environmental regulations, and recycling.
He denies that poverty exists in the U.S.; and says Terri Schiavo’s death was "premeditated murder," and that Living Wills are suicide notes. To love your pets too much, by his lights, is unbiblical; and tattoos, birth control, piercing, abortions and assisted suicide are immorally equivalent.
Paid $165,000 a year by Toward Tradition according to a 2003 IRS filing, Lapin calls his Mercer Island organization a coalition of Jews and Christians formed to counter anti religious bigotry and preserve the social fabric. He is also co-chair of American Alliance of Jews and Christians, created with former GOP presidential also-ran Gary Bauer.
Its board of advisers includes Jerry Falwell, Pat Robertson, Watergate conspirator Charles Colson, Abramoff, and Lapin's longtime friend and fellow radio talker Michael Medved.
He addressed the 1996 Republican Convention, after moving to the Seattle area and declaring personal bankruptcy after his Los Angeles investment company whose investors were his members of his synagogue went bust.
Click here for the blatherWatch opus: Rabbi Daniel Lapin, A Long Look Backward for the whole story on this troubling, divisive character.
Will the good rabbi apologize on his show, Sunday next? Probably not. Humility and contrition don't seem to be part of this religious zealot's psyche...but just in case, blatherWatch will be listening.
If there is a God that God should reward Rabbi Daniel Lapin for the Many Good Works that He has carried out by sentencing Rabbi Daniel Lapin to sit in a very small room with Dr. Laura for eternity upon his passing. God should also silence Rabbi Daniel Lapin by ripping out (physically) his vocal chords. No male example from any species should ever sound like this Rabbi Daniel Lapin. Furthermore, again for eternity and 4 and 20 minutes, only the angry shrill shreeking noises that Dr. Laura emits so regularly will make it to Rabbi Daniel Lapins ears...
When Dr. Laura sleeps, Rabbi Daniel Lapin should be forced to look at the pictures of Dr. Laura that turned up on the web a few years ago, and closely compare. Presumably Dr. Laura is easier to see now...
Posted by: Shah from Wal Mart | June 24, 2005 at 05:23 AM
If Lapin, Dr Laura upset you so much, why do you listen? Persoanlly, I don't like Dr Laura's show at all and NEVER listen. You've got at least two knobs on your radio....The on/off knob and the tuning knob. And as an off topic note, I signed the anti-gas tax initiative today....tax me when you actually have some PLANS for the money you want to collect.
Posted by: Duane | June 24, 2005 at 06:24 PM
Duane, if blatherwatch upsets you so much why do you come here and post?
Posted by: Lazy Murrow | June 24, 2005 at 10:26 PM
Duane: I love you man, that's why I listen to all this nasty shit--so I can report to you, my beloved readers...
And on the off-topic don't listen to Carlson & Kirby about the roads bill--the projects are VERY specifically spelled out.
click on this:
http://www.keepwashingtonrolling.org/project.html
for the massive list of road improvements all over the state.
I know you to be a fairminded guy: look at this list and note how different reality is than what you hear on KVI.
Posted by: blathering Michael | June 24, 2005 at 11:22 PM
Hey LAZY...I didn't say BLATHERWATCH bothered ME....learn to read.
Michael, I dial by AirAmerica once in a while....
Posted by: Duane | June 25, 2005 at 12:19 AM
Blogs are so informative where we get lots of information on any topic. Nice job keep it up!!
Posted by: Dissertation Titles | October 26, 2009 at 03:07 AM