You have to hand it to Tim Kaine.

He can show compassion and contempt — in the same hour.

He’s the Governor of Virginia.

And chair of the Democratic National Committee.

And he and his wife — Anne Colton — came to the heart of Appalachia to volunteer for Remote Area Medical — which has set up a free medical clinic for the weekend at the Wise County, Virginia Fair Grounds.

Kaine spent a couple of hours registering hundreds of patients.

More than 1,600 were at the fairgrounds at 9 a.m. — seeking free dental, vision and other medical services.

Kaine knows that a single payer health care for all system would put such free health clinics out of business.

After all, it would guarantee everyone health care — including dental, vision, and mental health care — cradle to grave.

As Dr. Marcia Angell — former editor of the New England Journal of Medicine puts it — it’s not only the best health care reform — it’s the only one that control costs and covers everyone.

Single Payer Action’s Russell Mokhiber confronted Kaine after he left the registration area.

“It’s a disgrace that the Democrats in Congress took single payer off the table,” Mokhiber told Kaine.

Kaine said in response that it was the sense of “the guys in Congress” that pushing for single payer “was getting in the way of trying to make progress.”

Getting in the way of trying to make progress?

According to the Congressional Budget Office, the meager Obama health care plan will leave 37 million Americans uninsured and cost $1 trillion over ten years.

Single payer — on the other hand — would save $400 billion a year and cover everyone.

What Kaine really means by “making progress” is getting to yes with the insurance companies.

That means keeping the insurance companies in the game.

Which is bound keep the thousands of poor who are flocking to Wise, Virginia this weekend locked in a cycle of poverty.

A gesture of compassion — volunteering to help.

And a slap to the face — denying the poor universal access to health care.

All within the same hour.

And all to protect the health insurance industry.