I have a difficult time with this. If Bill wasn't an ex-President, and already on the international scene, I wouldn't have a problem excluding him. I see a very big potential for "persuasion" to be levied by him on his wife for some country, which would bring financial gain to the Clintons. I think he should come in and answer some questions in that regard.

Have Bill testify - but then have every spouse with a job that may pose any sort of a conflict of interest testify in the future.

If you are married to someone you can sway their minds so this should be done by all spouses of those men and women who are serving in the political arena then.

If several of the contingencies involved Bill, then I suppose it makes sense for him to testify.

However, I don't think that automatically necessitates having the spouse testify from here on out. This is a unique case and I think it's okay to be able to respond to that without requiring a blanket policy change.

It would be to Hilary's best interest if he does.

Pop, I respect you like crazy - but are the Clintons so different from Greenspan and Andrea Mitchell, or the head of the SEC being married to an airlines lobbyist? The Secretary of State is important, but right now we're seeing the horrific damage that economic misguidance can cause us...

Stephley I'm truly not aware of the instances that you cited. But if there was an inherent conflict of interest between the spouses then I would say that yes, both should have testified.

But if you're in the running for a cabinet position, and your husband is at home with the kids, I guess I just don't see the point in dragging them in just because Bill had to go.

That's all I'm saying. We should just deal with it on a case by case basis.

Cool - just checking.

No! He's done enough with his disclosures so it's not necessary. It's the Republicans trying to use this as an opportunity to get information out of him.

I don't see how having an ex-President as a husband is a conflict of interest. They have made all the disclosure requests, and it isn't like he is currently a lobbiest working for a specific company.

i think that people are putting too much importance on bill and hillary as a couple - they are just lucky to be in the same era for political relevance and that's about it. yes it's good to know that she got some of her experience from being with him, and that he has sound advice to share but that should be the extent of it. people are making way too big of a deal.

Bill should testify if only to put the minds of those questioning Hillary's motives at ease. No matter what this woman does, whether it's right or wrong, MANY people, republican and democrat alike, will question her motives. For this reason I didn't want to see her in office. BO is going to have enough conflict around him from the people that didn't want him in that seat. Adding her to the mix, while a SMART move from a purely business standpoint, may not have been the smartest move for him politically in the long run.

Though former President Clinton's testimony would be valuable, I wonder how many of the lawmakers will actually take it seriously. I feel that it's a bit unfair that Bill's been roped in to "defend" his wife. Hillary is a very credible woman, so I really wished they would have asked someone else to serve as her referee.