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ORIGINAL RESEARCHBill Berkowitz Daniel Lapin: The Right's favorite RabbiWill Lapin's involvement in the Abramoff scandal hurt, or solidify, his position with Christian evangelicals?Rabbi Daniel Lapin's Toward Tradition website is filled with all sorts of announcements Before signing on with the San Francisco-based right wing talk station, Lapin had been dropped from his regular radio gig at KTTH, Seattle. According to Michael Hood, of blatherWatch--"listening to talk radio so you don't have to..."--Lapin has been "no spellbinding broadcaster." He has "failed in syndication, and never really had much luck staying long anywhere on the dial, although he's tried at KVI, KKOL and KTTH." Abramoff admitted in his own guilty plea in January that he funneled money through [Lapin's] Mercer Island religious foundation as part of an attempt to influence Tony Rudy, Rep. Tom DeLay's former deputy chief of staff. In fact, blatherWatch noted, Lapin's "local show was brokered" which means that his organization, "Toward Tradition (TT) paid to get him on the air." The Toward Tradition website also proudly reported that on Monday, March 13, 2006 Lapin appeared on the Trinity Broadcasting Network, where he and Rabbi Aryeh Scheinberg were introduced by Pastor John Hagee. The two-hour program was "devoted to the Jewish significance of the holiday of Purim and the historic links and prophecies found in the Book of Esther," according to a program description provided by TBN. A much bigger story -- and one with national implications -- has failed to make it onto the front page of the website; details about Rabbi Lapin's longtime friendship and working relationship with former uber-lobbyist Jack Abramoff, who on March 29, 2006 was sentenced to nearly six years in prison for fraud in the purchase of a Florida casino cruise line. The Rabbi Lapin/Jack Abramoff connectionOn April 1, 2006 the Seattle Times reported that "Abramoff admitted in his own guilty plea in January that he funneled money through [Lapin's] Mercer Island religious foundation as part of an attempt to influence" Tony Rudy, Rep. Tom DeLay's former deputy chief of staff. Lapin said that Toward Tradition "took $50,000 from two Abramoff clients and, at Abramoff's suggestion, used it to hire Lisa Rudy, to organize a Washington, D.C., conference for the group." The Seattle Times also reported that "Lapin said he and his board had no idea the money was part of Abramoff's scheme to influence Congress and, in this case, stop legislation to raise postal rates and ban online lotteries." Less than a year earlier, Rabbi Lapin was gaining a national reputation as the Christian right's go-to Rabbi. On June 25, 2005, the Washington Post provided an in-depth look at the Rabbi's growing political influence. The story talked about the Rabbi's frequent trips from his Washington headquarters to the nation's capital, where he would meet with the likes of Rep. Delay, Karl Rove, and hang out with his old chum Jack Abramoff. "Last year he came for a private Shabbat dinner with President Bush," the Washington Post reported. "The president recognizes my enthusiasm for his faith," Lapin said. "With a city increasingly dominated by the religious conservatives who appreciate Lapin, he can now be described as Republican Washington's Official Rabbi, and to some it's an improvement," the newspaper reported. "When you're talking to a pastor he could be inspired by God, etc., but he may not have the scholarship," Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (Calif.), one of several Republicans who refer to Lapin affectionately as "my rabbi," told the Washington Post. "When you're talking to Rabbi Lapin you know you're getting an expert, someone who's the equivalent of a PhD at a major university." The Post described Lapin as "an evangelical Christian's stereotype of a rabbi: He wears a rabbi's beard, from ear to ear, but trims it to a dignified length. He speaks in a posh South African accent, which adds to his authority. In his speeches and on his radio show he takes the Torah at its word and quotes extensively from it. "For evangelicals who are used to reading about Jews as God's chosen people, he solves an essential mystery: 'A lot of people are surprised when they leave church and encounter essentially [Alan] Dershowitz Judaism, Jews who are liberal...' says conservative activist Grover Norquist [head of Americans for Tax Reform], who is also a friend. 'Lapin is the opposite of that.'" At the time of the article, Abramoff was under investigation by the Justice Department, and several of Lapin's close friends, including DeLay and Ralph Reed, the former executive director of the Christian Coalition who is involved in a race for lieutenant governor of Georgia, were subjects of interest. "But Lapin dismisses it all as an accounting error," the Washington Post noted. Less than two weeks later, the Seattle Weekly, one of Lapin's hometown publications, also reported on the Lapin/Abramoff connection: "A stream of political money currently under U.S. Senate investigation quietly meandered south from D.C. in 1999--2000, but its headwaters turn out to have been in Seattle. A $121,000 expenditure--the initial funds used for a deceptive Deep South antigambling campaign run by religious right leader Ralph Reed--was authorized by top officers at Seattle's Preston Gates Ellis law and lobbying firm, for whom Reed worked as a subcontractor, according to new Senate documents. Eventually, as much as $1.3 million-- apparently supplied by an Indian casino client--may have gushed through Preston Gates accounts in one month to kick start the campaign." Where does Lapin come in? According to the Seattle Weekly, "New Senate documents show Seattle radio host Rabbi Daniel Lapin was more than just a friend and fellow religious conservative to embattled D.C. lobbyist Jack Abramoff ...Lapin was also on the payroll of Abramoff's D.C. charity, Capital Athletic Foundation [CAF]. According to Abramoff's e-mails, CAF was sometimes used as a money conduit to avoid paying higher income taxes." "At one point, the e-mails state, Abramoff proposed using Lapin and another person on CAF's payroll to create a "research" project as a tax write-off, but Abramoff's accountant worried the IRS would see it as a "sham transaction," and the idea was apparently dropped. Abramoff also proposed using Lapin's Mercer Island charity, Toward Tradition, as an apparent money pass-through to help fund Ralph Reed's antigambling drives (see main story), then learned the charity didn't have the correct IRS status. "There is no indication Lapin, who would not comment last week, was aware of the schemes. Abramoff is a board member of Lapin's charity, and Lapin was one of four people who collectively earned $20,000 a month at Abramoff's D.C. charity, according to Senate documents. After the Abramoff connection was exposed, "donations slumped ... and his organization became radioactive," blatherWatch reported. Abramoff "had been an old friend, a founder, a two-time Board president of TT before being unceremoniously dropped after being indicted." Abramoff, who seemed to have a predilection for sending fascinating and revealing email to his pals, asked Lapin in one email "to make up an award or two so Abramoff could get into the private Cosmos Club, inhabited by Nobel Prize winners and others of an ilk Abramoff wished to be seen associating with," blatherWatch reported. They settled on 'Scholar of Talmudic Studies?' or some such. Lapin claims it was a joke, but Abramoff, it was revealed in the investigation, used it in serious applications." BlatherWatch also pointed out that "checks written by gambling entities and other corporations ... were washed through Toward Tradition. Lapin claims he was ignorant of the devious way his old friend was using him." According to an earlier report by the Seattle Weekly's Rick Anderson ("Meet the Lapin Brothers"), "Years ago, Lapin introduced Abramoff to DeLay. 'It was just, 'Jack? Meet Tom'--very informal at a D.C. dinner,' says a Lapin follower. 'Just people who see eye to eye.'" While Daniel Lapin refused to speak with Anderson, his younger brother David, who is also a Rabbi and is the CEO of Strategic Business Ethics, was willing to talk about reports that he "had a $1.2 million no-bid Northern Marianas government contract that was arranged by Abramoff during his Preston Gates days, to conduct ethics-in-government programs there." According to a New York Times report, David Lapin didn't provide the services. The Seattle Weekly reported "On his consultancy's Web site, David Lapin says the Marianas' attorney general, Pam Brown, told him she was misquoted by The New York Times about not knowing what work Lapin did for the commonwealth. 'SBE contacted Ms. Brown last night, who assured us that she had implied nothing of the sort,' David Lapin says on the Web site. 'What she said was that there have been two administration changes since the SBE projects and that, not having reviewed the files, she was unable to comment about the deliverables of SBE's work.' Brown did not respond to phone and e-mail messages left by Seattle Weekly. David Lapin was never interviewed by The New York Times because he was away during Passover. He says the work he performed over two years included leading a governmental reorganization, establishing new labor laws, and providing 'an improved work ethic.'" David Lapin also told the Seattle Weekly that he had "met Mr. Abramoff many years ago. He was on a trip to South Africa and was a guest of mine." The Weekly pointed out that David Lapin "once ran a Jewish academy established by Abramoff in the D.C. area." David Lapin added that he and Jack "are good friends and there was nothing improper about this deal." On March 31, 2006 the Washington Post's Al Kamen pointed out that among the many letters sent to U.S. District Judge Paul C. Huck prior to the sentencing of Abramoff, "there was a warm letter from Rabbi David Lapin, urging leniency and noting Abramoff was not your 'average criminal.'" (See here for Daniel Lapin's response to reports about his relationship with Abramoff.) The Right's Most-Favored RabbiFor years, leaders of the religious right have virtually conferred a most-favored-Rabbi status on Lapin. As the head of Toward Tradition, a very conservative Jewish organization, Lapin, who immigrated to the US from South Africa in 1973, has been carrying water for the religious right at every opportunity. The Rabbi often goes beyond merely carrying water, however, he appears to ladle it out as well: In a June 21, 2002 article in the Forward titled "Born-Again Allies," the Rabbi argued that it was time for Jews to do something concretely to thank Christian evangelicals for their support of Israel. If they didn't step up, the Rabbi implied that they would risk losing that support. Lapin also praised President Bush, the now beleaguered, indicted and-soon to be formerTexas Republican Congressman Tom DeLay, and former Texas Republican Congressman Dick Armey, for their support of Israel. "At very least," Lapin wrote, "We have an obligation to desist from thinking of ourselves as the parole officer for the Rev. Billy Graham, who was recently humiliated for offensive remarks [revealed in a taped conversation with President Richard Nixon] made long ago. We should also stop acting as the watchdogs over Pat Robertson, Jerry Falwell and many other Christian leaders, all of whom are devotedly pro-Israel and who are guilty of nothing more than frankly stating their religious beliefs, some of which we as Jews do not hold." Marching along with Lapin on this issue was Toward Tradition's David Klinghoffer, who suggested in a late June 2002 story in National Review Online that "At a minimum, Christians can reasonably ask that groups like the ADL, the American Jewish Congress, and Wiesenthal Center lay off a bit. In exchange for their vital support of Israel, at least until the Mideast crisis has subsided, let [Abe] Foxman et al. declare a moratorium on bashing Christians." Lapin was a strong advocate for Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ," and was outspoken in his support for Terri Schiavo's parents, Mary and bob Schindler. Toward TraditionAccording to the SeattleWeekly, Rabbi Daniel Lapin's nonprofit was founded with Abramoff and film critic/radio talker Michael Medved. Toward Tradition, a non-profit [501(c)(3)] organization claims it is "working to advance our nation toward the traditional Judeo-Christian values that defined America's creation and became the blueprint for her greatness." The organization's mission statement goes on to say: "We believe that only a new alliance of concerned citizens can re-identify and dramatically strengthen the core values necessary for America to maintain that greatness and moral leadership. These values are: faith-based American principles of constitutional and limited government; the rule of law; representative democracy; free markets; a strong military; and, a moral public culture." The organization has "four unique programs": The Macabee Project The website offers an 800 number where alleged instances of defamation of faith or bigotry against any religious American can be reported. The Biblical Blueprint Institute. The American Alliance of Jews and Christians. Founded in early in 2002 along with Gary Bauer -- the failed presidential candidate who once headed up the Family Research Council and who now runs a group called American Values. According to a Toward Tradition press release, the Washington, D.C.-based AAJC was to be a "unique synthesis of Jewish authenticity and Christian grassroots muscle." The organization's Board of Advisers includes Dr. James Dobson, Gary Bauer, Charles Colson, Rev. Jerry Falwell, Rev. Pat Robertson, Pastor Rick Scarborough, as well as Rabbi Barry Freundel, Rabbi David Novak, Rabbi Meir Soloveichik, Michael Medved, John Uhlmann. The Ethical Investment Project -- "Restoring American respect for the dignity and morality of business." According to the bio posted at Toward Tradition's website, Lapin moved to Washington state in 1991 in order "to develop Toward Tradition and host a nationally syndicated weekly radio show." He has written articles for the Wall Street Journal, National Review, Commentary, the American Enterprise, the publication of the American Enterprise Institute, and the Reverend Sun Myung Moon-owned Washington Times. His bio claims that Lapin has "taught at the Christian Coalition, U.S. Army, Harvard Law School , and the Family Research Council." He is also the author of "America's Real War," "Buried Treasure" and more recently "Thou Shall Prosper." His bio points out that he "serves on the board" of the Jewish Policy Center in Washington , DC. A significant fundraiser for Bush/Cheney, Lapin was recently reappointed to the U.S. Commission for the Preservation of America's Heritage Abroad, which helps preserve cemeteries, monuments, and historic buildings in Eastern and Central Europe. Between the years 1994 and 2004, Toward Tradition, received more than half-a-million dollars in grants from such conservative foundations as the Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation, the Sarah Scaife Foundation, the Roe Foundation, The Carthage Foundation (controlled by Richard Mellon Scaife) and others. BlatherWatch pointed out that "according to a 2003 IRS filing, Toward Tradition paid Lapin $165,000 a year." Being linked to the Abramoff Affair doesn't appear to have hurt Rabbi Lapin's standing among Christian evangelicals. On March 28, 2006 the Rabbi "gave a fiery speech" at a Cincinnati banquet organized by Citizens for Community Values, a Christian evangelical group founded in 1983 and devoted to "battling pornography and strip clubs in Cincinnati," the Columbus Dispatch reported. The group was holding the banquet to announce its expansion. "Politics," Lapin said, "is the practical application of our religious beliefs. If Citizens for Community Values fails in its mission, we all lose." sign in, or register to email stories or comment on them.
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MORE ORIGINAL RESEARCHBill Berkowitz PERC receives Templeton Freedom Award for promoting 'enviropreneurs'Right Wing foundation-funded anti-environmental think tank grabbing a wider audience for 'free market environmentalism' On the 15th anniversary of Terry Anderson and Donald Leal's book "Free Market Environmentalism" -- the seminal book on the subject -- Anderson, the Executive Director of the Bozeman, Montana-based Property and Environment Research Center (PERC - formerly known as the Political Economy Research Center) spoke in late-January at an event sponsored by Squaw Valley Institute at the Resort at Squaw Creek in California. While it may have been just another opportunity to speak on "free market environmentalism" and not the kickoff of a "victory tour," nevertheless it comes at a time when PERC's ideas are taking root.
Bill Berkowitz Neil Bush of Saudi ArabiaDuring recent visit, President’s brother describes the country as a 'kind of tribal democracy' In late February, only a few days after Saudi Arabia beheaded four Sri Lankan robbers and then left their headless bodies on public display in the capital of Riyadh, Neil Bush, for the fourth time in the past six years, showed up for the country's Jeddah Economic Forum. The Guardian reported that Human Rights Watch "said the four men had no lawyers during their trial and sentencing, and were denied other basic legal rights." In an interview with Arab News, the Saudi English language paper, Bush described the country as "a kind of tribal democracy."
Bill Berkowitz Newt Gingrich's back door to the White HouseAmerican Enterprise Institute "Scholar" and former House Speaker blames media for poll showing 64 percent of the American people wouldn't vote for him under any circumstances Whatever it is that former House Speaker Newt Gingrich has come to represent in American politics, the guy is nothing less than fascinating. One day he's espousing populist rhetoric about the need to cut the costs of college tuition and the next day he's talking World War III. One day he's claiming that the "war on terror" may force the abridgement of fundamental first amendment rights and the next he's advancing a twenty-first century version of his Contract with America. At the same time he's publicly proclaiming how "stupid" it is that the race for the presidency has already started you know that he's trying to figure out how to out finesse Rudy, McCain and Romney for the nomination. And last week, when Fox News' Chris Wallace cited a poll showing that 64 percent of the public would never vote for him, he was quick to blame those results on how unfairly he was treated by the mainstream media back in the day.
Bill Berkowitz American Enterprise Institute takes lead in agitating against IranDespite wrongheaded predictions about the war on Iraq, neocons are on the frontlines advocating military conflict with Iran After doing such a bang up job with their advice and predictions about the outcome of the war on Iraq, would it surprise you to learn that America's neoconservatives are still in business? While at this time we are not yet seeing the same intense neocon invasion of our living rooms -- via cable television's news networks -- that we saw during the run-up to the invasion of Iraq, nevertheless, a host of policy analysts at conservative think tanks -- most notably the American Enterprise Institute -- are being heeded on Iran by those who count - folks inside the Bush Administration.
Bill Berkowitz After six years, opposition gaining on George W. Bush's Faith Based InitiativeUnmentioned in the president's State of the Union speech, the program nevertheless continues to recruit religious participants and hand out taxpayer money to religious groups With several domestic policy proposals unceremoniously folded into President Bush's recent State of the Union address, two pretty significant items failed to make the cut. Despite the president's egregiously tardy response to the event itself, it was nevertheless surprising that he didn't even mention Hurricane Katrina: He didn't offer up a progress report, words of hope to the victims, or come up with a proposal for moving the sluggish rebuilding effort forward. There were no "armies of compassion" ready to be unleashed, although it should be said that many in the religious community responded to the disaster much quicker than the Bush Administration. In the State of the Union address, however, there was no "compassionate conservatism" for the victims of Hurricane Katrina.
Bill Berkowitz Frank Luntz calls Republican leadership in Washington 'One giant whining windbag'On the outs with the GOP, legendary degrader of discourse is moving to California He doesn't make great art; nothing he does elevates the human spirit; he doesn't illuminate, he bamboozles. He has become expert in subterfuge, hidden meanings, word play and manipulation. Frank Luntz has been so good at what he does that those paying close attention gave it its own name: "Luntzspeak."
Bill Berkowitz Spooked by MoveOn.org, conservative movement seeks to emulate liberal powerhouseFueled with Silicon Valley money, TheVanguard.org will have Richard Poe, former editor of David Horowitz's FrontPage magazine as its editorial and creative director As Paul Weyrich, a founding father of the modern conservative movement and still a prominent actor in it, likes to say, he learned a great deal about movement building by closely observing what liberals were up to in the late 1960s and early 1970s.
Bill Berkowitz Ward Connerly's anti-affirmative action jihadFounder and Chair of the American Civil Rights Institute scouting five to nine states for new anti-affirmative action initiatives Fresh from his most recent victory -- in Michigan this past November -- Ward Connerly, the Black California-based maven of anti-affirmative action initiatives, appears to be preparing to take his jihad on the road. According to a mid-December report in the San Francisco Chronicle, Connerly said that he was "exploring moves into nine other states."
Bill Berkowitz Tom Tancredo's missionThe Republican congressman from Colorado will try to woo GOP voters with anti-immigration rhetoric and a boatload of Christian right politics These days, probably the most recognizable name in anti-immigration politics is Colorado Republican Congressman Tom Tancredo. Over the past year, Tancredo has gone from a little known congressman to a highly visible anti-immigration spokesperson. "Tancredo has thoroughly enmeshed himself in the anti-immigration movement and with the help of CNN talk show host Lou Dobbs, he has been given a national megaphone," Devin Burghart, the program director of the Building Democracy Initiative at the Center for New Community, a Chicago-based civil rights group, told Media Transparency.
Bill Berkowitz Institute on Religion and Democracy slams 'Leftist' National Council of ChurchesNew report from conservative foundation-funded IRD charges the NCC with being a political surrogate for MoveOn.org, People for the American Way and other liberal organizations If you prefer your religious battles sprinkled with demagoguery, sanctimoniousness, and simplistic attacks, the Institute on Religion and Democracy's (IRD) latest broadside against the National Council of Churches (NCC) certainly fits the bill.
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