Those who know Mr. Sharif well say that while he is devout, he follows the gentle Barelvi form of Islam that is traditional in Pakistan, not the hardline Wahhabi ideology spread by Saudi Arabia, where he spent part of his years in exile.

WSJ: Eyes on Economy, Ex-PM Leads Pakistan's Race

However you interpret the data, the fact remains that the longer we continue to form our opinions on health care policy based on ideology and the care and feeding of special interests, the longer it will take to come up with a system that can actually work for all Americans.

FORBES: Koch Brothers Financed 'Research' Institute Steps Up Misleading Obamacare Attacks