Interesting perspective on Obama

The Chicago Tribune has up an interesting (and unabashedly positive) view of Barack Obama. It is worth a read - with a grain of salt - to get an insight into what the supporters who have known him longest think of the first-term Senator.

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.

This was a pretty amazing conversation, not only because of Obama's mastery of the legal details, but also because many prominent Democratic leaders had already blasted the Bush initiative as blatantly illegal. He did not want to take a public position until he had listened to, and explored, what might be said on the other side.

If true, it is a pleasant contrast to the "my way or the highway" methodology of George W. Bush, whose certainty is reassuring in times of crisis but off-putting at other times. And it is a contrast the calculating Clintonian methodology which is less "what is true" than "what position will gain me the most".