Lindsay's Dad Makes Desperate Plea -- to Maury?

Once again proving how out of touch he is with his daughter, Michael Lohan went on the Maury Povich show today and delivered a televised message to LiLo in which he insulted her ... and then promised to "save her life."


First Mike called Lindsay a "hollow person" ... then claimed there was "nothing left in her" -- and finally said he "couldn't even look at her."

Then, after the dramatic plea, Michael actually had the stones to say, "I hate to speak out publicly like this..."

Right....

FYI -- Today's show was called "You're 14 ... Stop Lap Dancing and Trying to Get Pregnant."

Stay classy, Michael.