Yes, we can.

[Alex]

Originally Posted by innerSpaceman

And now that you mention it, perhaps it should be pointed out that the administration is one, big collective team ... with a single ultimate decision-maker. No one else on the team is elected. So what's the big difference if the first lady (or first laddy) plays on the team???

I don't have any expectation that a president's spouse will avoid political participation and don't hold it against her or any other if they did. However, one very key difference is that pretty much all of the major members of that big collective team are submitted to congressional oversight and approval and are subject to lots of laws and regulations that the presidential spouse isn't (or would be in a very grey area if congress tried to enforce them). Congress can't impeach the first spouse.