Granted, politicians don’t generally possess a silver-lined reputation for honesty. But a fake degree? Politicians usually undergo this thing called “vetting,” where their background gets thoroughly checked. Vetted.

Not in the case of Ali Kordan, Iran’s Interior Minister. From the AP article Iran’s parliament oust Ahmadinejad ally:

Iran’s parliament dismissed a Cabinet minister Tuesday over his fake degree from Oxford University, a vote seen as a humiliating blow to hardline President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad who faces elections next summer.

Apparently Kordan was vetted, just not very well:

Kordan’s resume was questioned during his confirmation debate in August, when several lawmakers argued he was unqualified for the post and claimed his Oxford degree was a fake. He was approved by a relatively slim margin, reflecting those concerns.

It was only after Oxford denied awarding him an honorary doctorate of law that Kordan admitted the degree was not real. Ahmadinejad defended Kordan, shrugging off degrees in general as “torn paper,” unnecessary for serving the people.

The lesson: no matter how powerful you plan to be in the world, a fake degree is fake enough to bring you down. Which is why you should go to school and get your degree online.