At some level, you really have to feel for the woman at the center of the Whitman “housekeepergate” story, Nicky Diaz Santillan.  She is an undocumented immigrant, and she has now exposed herself to the world, and ICE.  It’s not an easy thing to do.  But at another level, the story is deeply intriguing, from both personal and political standpoints.  Today, Meg Whitman, and Gloria Allred, Ms. Diaz Santillan’s attorney, held back to back press conferences.  And, as this is the kind of stuff that makes gossip rags crazy, TMZ.com streamed both live.

I’ll just summarize Meg’s press conference: “Gloria Allred is a liar and a tool of Jerry Brown. Nicky is being manipulated by that shystress. Oh, and I’m so certain that Gloria Allred is a liar that I’ll take a polygraph.”

And Allred’s response? Well, I’ll let TMZ summarize

But today, Gloria produced the letter with what she says is a written command from Meg’s husband — “Nicky, please check this.”

Earlier today Whitman said she would take a polygraph test — but Gloria says Nicky doesn’t have to take a polygraph test because she has the letter as proof, and “the evidence speaks for itself.”

As for Whitman’s claim that Gloria is working with Jerry Brown to engineer a smear campaign — Gloria says she has not made any contribution to Brown’s current campaign and hasn’t had any contact recently with Brown or his people.

Take a look at the letter that the Whitman residence received.  Allegedly, the handwriting down at the bottom is that of Dr. Griff Harsh, Whitman’s husband. (yes, for real) So while Whitman said she didn’t receive the letter, apparently her husband did.

Of course, there is the other question that will be on the minds of Californians. If she thought of Nicky as family, then why did she treat her like somebody that could simply be tossed out.  You know, members of my family have done things that I really don’t like, and vice versa, but I’ll do everything that I can to stick up for them.  That’s what family is for.

But the Harsh-Whitman family, is, well, a bit harsh. Sure, she’ll build a dorm at Princeton to get her sons admitted, despite the fact that they were kicked out of several schools for racist attacks upon fellow students and general poor behavior, but fib on a few papers in order to make a life where you can eat and provide for your children? Well, you are persona non grata.

It’s a sad statement about our immigration system to be sure. It provided a very poor choice for Meg once she had the entire situation displayed in front of her.  But she took the easy way out. And that says a lot about her character.