OH, GOOD GRIEF: French minister in ‘boy sex’ row.

France’s Culture Minister Frederic Mitterrand is facing intense pressure over a book he wrote that described paying for “young boys” in Thailand.

The book was written four years ago, before he joined the government, but is back in the headlines following his impassioned support for Roman Polanski.

Polanski has been arrested in Switzerland on child sex charges.

Mr Mitterrand, nephew of late President Francois Mitterrand, is expected to defend himself on TV later on Thursday.

Passage from the book: “All these rituals of the market for youths, the slave market excited me enormously… the abundance of very attractive and immediately available young boys put me in a state of desire.” Really, you can’t make this stuff up. But he rejects “criticism from the far right!” (Via Ann Althouse).

UPDATE: Related: The Polanski Culture.