Earlier this week, Newt Gingrich explained his past infidelities by saying they were brought on" by how passionately I felt about this country" -- a passion that caused the former Speaker of the House to work "far too hard," thus driving him into the arms of women he wasn't married to.

On 'The Colbert Report' (weekdays, 11:30 PM ET on Comedy Central), Stephen Colbert took a whack at that softball.

"Newt only cheated on his wives because he's so passionate about America," Colbert explained. "Patriotism takes many forms, some people join the army, some people wear a flag pin, and some people cheat on their wife while she's in the hospital with cancer."

"You know I never realized just how patriotic John Edwards is," Colbert added, making it a bipartisan barb.

But, in the end, Colbert offered sympathy for our politicians who just can't control their patriotism.

"Who can blame these guys for getting a little randy? Just looking at America's purple mountains majesty can make my rocket red glare."

Watch the full episode here: