Much of the political world arched an eyebrow last week when Rudy Giuliani interrupted a speech to the NRA to chat with his wife, a shtick he has pulled a couple of times on the campaign trail.

In an interview posted yesterday, Giuliani told TV preacher Pat Robertson's Christian Broadcasting Network exactly why he answered his phone: 9/11.

For Rudy Giuliani, it's always about 9/11 -- even when it comes to his wife's ill-timed phone calls.

Elaborating for the first time on why he interrupted a speech to the National Rifle Association this month to take a cell-phone call from his wife, Judith, Giuliani explained that, since 9/11, he and the missus always chat before flying.

"Quite honestly, since Sept. 11, most of the time when we get on a plane, we talk to each other and just reaffirm the fact that we love each other," the Republican presidential hopeful told the Christian Broadcasting Network.

First, I know Giuliani has an acute case of "9/11 Tourette's," but this just isn't healthy.

Second, it's interesting that Giuliani makes this reaffirmation with his third wife before air travel "since Sept. 11," given that on Sept. 11, Giuliani was married to someone else.

And third, Giuliani is trying way too hard to convince people he's a good husband. We're talking about a thrice-married candidate who, among other things, married his cousin, was a serial adulterer, and marched with his mistress in a St. Patrick's Day parade. If Giuliani doesn't want to be the subject of ridicule, he probably should stop talking quite this much about his personal life.