The battle between NewsBusters and horror novelist Stephen King went national Tuesday when the Associated Press picked up the story [1].

For those that haven't been following this, on Monday, NewsBusters reported [1] 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 [1] 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.