R. Kelly is just playing the drama card

Robert Kelly (aka R. Kelly) must have finished at the top of his class in "Crisis Management 101." In other words, he knows that "the best defense is a good offense," as he demonstrated in his recent televised interview with CBS news commentator Gayle King.

He has been accused of the most reprehensible of crimes against very young girls, and it has apparently been ongoing for years with this now 52-year-old man. However, he ranted, raved, screamed, and cried as he jumped up and moved about the set flailing his fists in the air as if to intimidate King as he denied everything. She did not flinch.

Failing that his "handlers" then calmed him down while rubbing his shoulders and dabbing his tears with a towel, and he then proceeded to play the "poor me" victim. He condemned every young girl as a liar and contended his prosecution was inherently unfair.

He has made millions beyond us ordinary mortals but has languished in jail on two occasions because of his inability to raise bail money, or pay $161,000 in back child support. He feels that is not due to what is his obvious irresponsible fiscal mismanagement and ostentatious lifestyle, but rather those he had trusted were "stealing from him."

In fact, there is probably some truth in the latter, but I believe that is on Kelly as well.

In my opinion Kelly's actions are obviously intended to influence and sway public opinion and more specifically to influence any future jurors judgment of guilt or innocence. The last thing he wants is to have his trial moved outside of the Chicago venue, which is his area of hard-core support.

Those who think this is a slam-dunk prosecution had best prepare themselves for the real possibility of another O.J. scenario.

Steve Thompson

South Elgin