While most people saw President Barack Obama’s “Jedi mind meld” gaffe as an easy joke, Stephen Colbert argued on Monday that it was an opportunity for conservatives to relate to one of Obama’s core demographics: nerds.

“After all, Republicans and nerds have so much in common,” he explained. “They both live in fantasy worlds, and have no idea how to relate to women. And, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) bears a striking resemblance to Admiral Ackbar.”

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Of course, Colbert still took the opportunity to make a joke about Obama’s mixing up terms from the Star Wars and Star Trek universes.

“Who makes that mistake?” he asked the audience. “Those two are as different as Good Kirk and Evil Kirk from ‘Mirror, Mirror,’ season two, episode four.”

Obama’s mistake, Colbert said, was a sign of stress caused by the standoff that led to the 2 percent sequester cuts he had to sign into effect on March 1. And just like a diet, Colbert argued, the best way for government to trim the fat was to take a cheese grater and shave off 2 percent everywhere.

“If we don’t cut expensive things like Head Start, children’s nutrition programs, teachers and student loans, what sort of future are we leaving for our children?” he pleaded.

Colbert said forced government cuts had already proven they could work in other parts of the world.

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“Just look at Europe — if you can see it through the tear gas,” he said. “I mean, many of those countries still exist.”

Watch Colbert tee off on Obama’s “sci-fi flub,” aired Monday on Comedy Central, below.