GOP front-runner John McCain, in a bid to prove his conservative credentials, tongue-teased the collective scrotum of the Christian-right on Wednesday.

“I do hope that at some point we would just calm down a little bit and see if there’s areas we can agree on,” McCain said at a news conference in a Phoenix airport hangar before he flew here.

The Rev. Jonathan Falwell, son of the late Rev. Jerry Falwell who made the religious right a political force when he founded the Moral Majority in 1979, disclosed Wednesday that he had a telephone talk with McCain within the past 24 hours. Falwell, who succeeded his father as pastor of Thomas Road Baptist Church in Lynchville, Va., said he wasn’t ready to endorse a candidate but wanted to hear more from the Arizona senator on the issues.

“I look forward to seeing what McCain’s plan is to unite the party,” Falwell said, “and to see what he has to say in the coming days on the social agenda.” He also expressed interest in hearing more from McCain on national security, the economy, Supreme Court nominees, and “how to protect human life and traditional marriage.” (Emphasis mine)

Unite the party? Just “the party”, Jonathan? Not the whole country? Pitting Americans against fellow Americans… how friggin’ religiously charitable of you!

McCain can have you and your ilk.