For example, Sunstein describes a conversation he and Obama had recently concerning President Bush's wiretapping program:

....Before taking a public position, Obama wanted to talk the problem through.

In about 20 minutes, he and I investigated the legal details. He asked me to explore all sorts of issues: the president's power as commander in chief, the Constitution's protection against unreasonable searches and seizures, the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, the Authorization for Use of Military Force and more.

Obama wanted to consider the best possible defense of what Bush had done. To every argument I made, he listened and offered a counterargument. After the issue had been exhausted, Obama said he thought the program was illegal, but now had a better understanding of both sides. He thanked me for my time.

In the rest of the OpEd, Sunstein talks about some of the concerns people have about an Obama presidency. He also points out, if it wasn't clear already, that Obama is certainly not a dogmatic liberal. For example, Sunstein highlights Obama's general approach to the mortgage crisis:

Transparency and accountability matter greatly to him; they are a defining feature of his proposals. With respect to the mortgage crisis, credit cards and the broader debate over credit markets, Obama rejects heavy-handed regulation and insists on disclosure above all so consumers will know exactly what they are getting.

Sunstein didn't point out that transparency is also a facet of Obama's own campaign. Obama is the only candidate of the three still running that has released his tax returns and provided full disclosure of earmarks. Both Clinton and McCain have failed to provide that level of disclosure.

While there are policy areas — the lack of health insurance mandates for mid-life adults, as one example — that might bother his most liberal supporters, Sunstein claims that Obama is no triangulator:

....Internationally and domestically, he is willing to think big and to be bold. He publicly opposed the war in Iraq when opposition was unpopular.

He favors high-level meetings with some of the world's worst dictators. He would rethink the embargo against Cuba.

He proposes a $150 billion research budget for climate change. He wants to hold an unprecedented national auction for the right to emit greenhouse gases. He has offered an ambitious plan for promoting technological innovation, calling for a national broadband policy, embracing network neutrality and proposing a reform of the patent system.

The rest of the OpEd contains additional insight into how a President Obama might approach governing. Sunstein is one of Obama's intellectual peers, and often such individuals do not talk about their conversations with politicians, especially before an election. Sunstein does address areas of concern people have directly, but he also provides reassurance in several areas. It's an interesting read.