Further proof that the personal is political: Today’s second debate between California gubernatorial rivals Meg Whitman and Jerry Brown was dominated by a scandal over Whitman’s former illegal immigrant housekeeper.
Channeling the Zoe Baird-Kimba Wood controversies–each withdrew her name from consideration for attorney general during the Clinton administration for hiring illegal immigrants as domestic help–Brown was on the offensive as to how Whitman, the GOP candidate, had an illegal immigrant housekeeper on the payroll for nine years and, according to her, didn’t know it.
“Don’t run for governor if you can’t stand up on your own two feet and say, ‘Hey I made a mistake,”‘ Brown said at the forum at California State University, Fresno, which was hosted by Spanish-language network Univision and the first California gubernatorial debate broadcast in Spanish. ”You have blamed her, blamed me, blamed the left, blamed the unions. But you don’t take accountability.”
Whitman told reporters after the debate that the controversy over Nicky Diaz Santillan, who the former CEO of eBay says confessed to being an illegal immigrant last year and was subsequently fired, is just a distraction to her race for governor.
Immigration is a high-profile issue in California, with 2.6 million illegal immigrants in the state and the home of one-quarter of the nation’s total illegal immigrant population.
“The real tragedy here is Nicky,” said Whitman in the debate with Brown, the Democrat state Attorney General who served two terms as governor of California from 1975-83. “After Nov. 2, no one’s going to be watching out for Nicky Diaz. And Jerry, you know you should be ashamed, you and your surrogates … put her deportation at risk. You put it out there and you should be ashamed for sacrificing Nicky Diaz on the altar of your political ambitions.”
Don’t break out the Kleenex just yet: Gloria Allred, a supporter of Democratic candidates, is the housekeeper’s (unpaid?) attorney–one and the same lawyer who represented Tiger Woods’ reputed mistress Rachel Uchitel to the tune of at least a $1 million settlement last year. Allred said Whitman caused Diaz Santillan to “feel exploited, disrespected, humiliated and emotionally and financially abused,” and is filing a claim for unpaid wages and mileage reimbursement.
Diaz Santillan alleges Whitman knew she an illegal worker but overlooked it until her run for governor. ”‘Don’t ask don’t tell’ may have become, ‘Oh my God she will tell if I continue to employ her,’” said Allred.
First reaction is that Whitman, one of just 14 female billionaires in the world who earned their fortunes, rather than inherited them, probably wasn’t paying too much attention to her housekeeper’s immigration status. And the Whitman campaign has provided Diaz Santillan’s immigration, IRS and Social Security information from 2000 that she says was a legal resident.
Then again, at today’s press conference Whitman told reporters, “For the 10 years, nine years she worked for me, she called me Meg and I called her Nicky.” Pretty chummy/gullible/hypocritical for someone who is campaigning for a crackdown on employers.
There is no doubt that some California residents–let’s say 25%–are unbothered, even cheered, by her hiring Diaz Santillan in the first place. And we can talk about the double standard in regard to working women politicians who have to answer to questions about domestic help when their male counterparts don’t. Although, in defense of males politicos, there are many more questions about their “help” in the bedroom vs. the kitchen and laundry room.
Or we can stick to the facts, the law and voters’ right to full transparency.Did she or didn’t she know…or did she or didn’t she want to know? Californians deserve answers.
Upshot: Whitman profited by hiring Diaz Santillan. Brown gained political points by calling out Diaz Santillan. Allred is sure to gain buzz and clients from the case.
What do you think? Leave your comments below and let’s see how the story pans out.
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