New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s proposed crackdown on big sugary drinks is going over like the metric system.

Exhibit A:

This full-page New York Times the American Beverage Association ran on Friday.

Exhibit B:

This full-page ad the Center for Consumer Freedom ran on Saturday.

The Center for Consumer Freedom, as the hardworking staff has previously noted, is a front group for the restaurant, fast-food, and soft-drink industries orchestrated by superflack Rick Berman, who was profiled by 60 Minutes as Dr. Evil and who runs at least 23 other front groups.

Then again, a Friday Times piece included this quote for the ages:

Another diner, Monica Dauphine, 44, who was sharing a 32-ounce Sprite, gave the mayor credit for his good intentions, but said: “You can’t force it. It’s like dictatorship. I’m sorry, but if you want to be obese, you want to be obese.”

Reality check: Saturday’s Wall Street Journal included this Sentiment Tracker about the Bloomberg ban:

Rick Berman, eat your (low-calorie) heart out.