Bush-Clinton 'Debate' at Radio City Canceled Due to Hype

A February meeting between former presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton -- on the stage of Radio City Music Hall in New York -- is suddenly off, thanks to a promoter who whipped up hype for the event, the New York Post reported Wednesday. Clinton spokesman Matt McKenna said that the event, which was planned as a low-key, moderated discussion between the former presidents, was canceled "because it was not being billed as such by an overeager promoter."

Bush and Clinton had a contract to participate in Madison Square Garden's "Minds That Move the World" series, which often puts ideological enemies on the same stage. One past event featured Bill Maher and Ann Coulter, another was a discussion between Karl Rove and James Carville. MSG Entertainment, which owns Radio City, called the Bush-Clinton event a "debate" and advertised it as "the hottest ticket in political history." The event listing, since removed from the MSG Web site, described it as a moderated panel where both men would be allowed to speak on a wide range of political topics.