AP: 'Stephen King Fires Back After [NewsBusters] Blogger Attacks Remarks'

The battle between NewsBusters and horror novelist Stephen King went national Tuesday when the Associated Press picked up the story.

For those that haven't been following this, on Monday, NewsBusters reported King's disgraceful comments -- made in front of a group of high school students at the Library of Congress in April -- about people who can't read having few options other than to enlist in the Army.

This surprisingly prompted King to post a blurb at his website encouraging readers to send a message to me stating, "Hi, Noel—Stephen King says to shut up and I agree."

Now, the AP has expressed its view of this squabble, of course, with no mention of King's sorry call-to-arms (emphasis added):

BANGOR, Maine (AP) Stephen King has fired back at conservative critics who attacked him over a remark he made more than a month ago at a writers symposium for high school students.

A blogger jumped on King's statement at the Library of Congress about the importance of reading in which he suggested poor readers have limited prospects, including service in the Army. [...]

Blogger Noel Sheppard likened the comment to former Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry's remarks that if you don't get a good education, ''you get stuck in Iraq.''

''Nice sentiment when the nation is at war, Stephen,'' Sheppard wrote.

King fired back Monday.

Yeah...so far with blanks.