Not so "Itsy Bitsy" Fakery: More AP Fabricated "News" ("Dead" Songwriter D'OH Alert)

Michelle Malkin has been hot on the trail of Bilal Hussein, the AP photographer who has ties to Al-Qaeda, and who--as Michelle reported--takes photos from Al-Qaeda terrorists' perspective.

Now, there is yet another reason not to believe what you see--and read--from AP.

Tuesday, AP reported that Paul Vance--the man who co-wrote the famous song, "Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini"--was dead. But, to paraphrase Mark Twain, reports of his demise were highly exaggerated. And, in fact, not true at all.

Paul Vance is alive and well. The man who actually died, Paul Van Valkenburgh, was a phony who claimed to have written the song under the name, Paul Vance--a complete lie. Had the AP obituary writer done even the slightest of reporting--ie., investigating--the phony news would not have been reported all over the world.

When Paul Vance surfaced--after reading his obit--AP started the real investigating. The "news"wire made him provide royalty statements to show he's the real deal--and not dead.

AP's phony report also cost the real Vance. Two of the horses he owns were scratched from horse races because of his alleged death. And he had to field condolence phone calls from those who thought he died. Vance told the New York Times he was considering suing AP because its false report could stop his "Bikini" song royalties from being paid:

Believe me, if they think you're dead, they ain't going to send the money. Other repercussions:

He was "kind of shook up" over reports of his demise. "What is happening is unreal," he said. "My kids went nuts. My closest friends are still calling." Phony news about a guy who wrote a popular bikini song from 46 years ago may seem minor, but it begs these questions about the capabilities of AP to accurately report important, major news stories:

* If AP can't even get right an obituary about a Z-list celeb who wrote a bikini song, what news can the news organization get right?

* How much other "news" reported by AP is similarly phony--and which alleged "news" reported by it can we, indeed, believe (if any)?

AP blames the false story on an obituary that ran in The News-Times of Danbury, Connecticut. But so what? Way to do your own "original" reporting and investigating, AP. Shows AP will just reprint anything in any newspaper, taking it as "the Gospel."

We like Michelle's new moniker for AP: "Associated--With Terrorists--Press." But we have another, equally appropriate suggestion: "Associated Press--Report Now, Investigate Later."

Poor Paul Vance! AP - the Apalooza Press botched up on reporting and published without ANY primary fact-checking, a fake but accurate obituary on the renowed song writer. Its not funny when you read yourself described as dead in the Drive By Media - and you're still breathing. As Debbie Schlussel says of AP, in journalism they're getting a dubious reputation for "Report Now, Investigate Later."

In the meantime, let's recall this golden oldie:

Yellow Polka Dot Bikini Girl

It Was An Itsy, Bitsy, Teenie, Weenie, Yellow Polka-Dot Bikini

She was afraid to come out of the locker
She was as nervous as she could be
She was afraid to come out of the locker
She was afraid that somebody would see One, two, three, four, tell the people what she wore

It was an itsy, bitsy, teenie, weenie, yellow polka-dot bikini
That she wore for the first time today
An itsy, bitsy, teentie, weenie, yellow polka-dot bikini
So in the locker she wanted to stay
Two, three, four, stick around we'll tell you more

She was afraid to come out in the open
And so a blanket around she wore
She was afraid to come out in the open
And so she sat bundled up on the shore
Two, three, four, tell the people what she wore

It was an itsy, bitsy, teenie, weenie, yellow polka-dot bikini
That she wore for the first time today
An itsy, bitsy, teentie, weenie, yellow polka-dot bikini
So in the blanket she wanted to stay
Two, three, four, stick around we'll tell you more

Now she is afraid to come out of the water
And I wonder what she's gonna do
Now she is afraid to come out of the water
And the poor little girl's turning blue
Two, three, four, tell the people what she wore

It was an itsy, bitsy, teenie, weenie, yellow polka-dot bikini
That she wore for the first time today
An itsy, bitsy, teentie, weenie, yellow polka-dot bikini
So in the water she wanted to stay
(From the locker to the blanket)
(From the blanket to the shore)
(From the shore to the water)
Yes, there isn't any more

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