Red Sox left fielder Manny Ramirez, who immigrated to the United States when he was 13 and became a U.S. citizen in 2004, took personal exception to President Bush’s verbal jabs on Wednesday, saying Dubya’s taunts about “Manny being Manny” were over the line.

During a White House ceremony honoring the Sox’ 2007 World Series title, Bush said of the absent Ramirez: “I guess his grandmother died again,” according to the Associated Press. After laughing at his own unexpected witticism, Bush added, “Just kidding.”

Ramirez also missed the 2005 ceremony honoring the reigning World Champions, claiming he’d been visiting a sick grandmother. Apprised of Bush’s recent comments, the Sox left fielder winced, but then took the offensive.

“This clown used to own the Texas Rangers,” he said. “Team ain’t never made the (World) Series. Guy freaking traded Sammy Sosa. Now he’s telling me my grandmother died again? What does he know? I voted for him once, but not this time.”

Reminded that Bush, the two-term Republican president, isn’t eligible to run this November, Ramirez was nevertheless adamant. “My grandmother did not die again!”**

** In other news, this is not a true story.