Mark Kleiman at the Reality-Based Community blog has managed to articulate perfectly the argument against the accusations that some have made against Barack Obama; e.g. "He's all style and no substance," or "He's an empty suit." It's quite short, and I encourage you all to read it:
Style, Substance and "Kumbaya"
Money quotes after the jump.
On style:
In the matter of Barack Obama and the "all this kumbaya stuff," it seems to me that Kevin Drum, along with most of the commentariat, confuses style with substance. It's not that I don't think style is important: on the contrary. But they're not the same thing. Barack Obama promises a less divisive style of politics, and of governing. He isn't going to try to convince all non-conservatives that conservatives are personally and morally repulsive. (He probably doesn't even think that's true.)
and on substance:
Nor is Obama committed to being nice to conservative politicians or power centers. (He's not the candidate looking to do a deal with Rupert Murdoch.) He hasn't forgotten the lessons of community organizing. He proposes to give the drug companies and health insurers a seat at the table in working out a health-care plan. But he also proposes to put C-SPAN cameras at that table, and make them negotiate in public, so that everyone can see if they're being obstructionist. If you think about it, that's a pretty nasty tactic. It might even work.
This is what I see Obama offering that will actually get policies enacted: respect for adversaries so that they are willing to work with you, and transparency so they can't wiggle of out agreements. No other candidate is offering this approach, and I believe it is the only approach that can work.
Kleiman's final paragraph is a gem:
But all he's promising conservatives is R-E-S-P-E-C-T. Insofar as they're deeply committed to conservative policies (rather than conservative values) he fully intends to screw them. He's just willing to kiss them first. And tell them how much he loves them afterwards.
That's the Kumbaya part, I guess.