The New York Times writes today, “President Obama anticipated Republican resistance to his jobs program, but he is now meeting increasing pushback from his own party. Many Congressional Democrats, smarting from the fallout over the 2009 stimulus bill, say there is little chance they will be able to support the bill as a single entity, citing an array of elements they cannot abide. ‘I think the American people are very skeptical of big pieces of legislation,’ Senator Bob Casey, a Democrat from Pennsylvania, said in an interview Wednesday, joining a growing chorus of Democrats who prefer an à la carte version of the bill despite White House resistance to that approach. ‘For that reason alone I think we should break it up.’”

The NYT also points out, “Republicans have focused their attack on the tax increases that would help pay for the spending components of the bill. But Democrats, as is their wont, are divided over their objections, which stem from Mr. Obama’s sinking popularity in polls, parochial concerns and the party’s chronic inability to unite around a legislative initiative, even in the face of Republican opposition. Some are unhappy about the specific types of companies, particularly the oil industry, that would lose tax benefits. . . . A small but vocal group dislikes the payroll tax cuts for employees and small businesses. . . . There are also Democrats, some of them senators up for election in 2012, who oppose the bill simply for its mental connection to the stimulus bill, which laid at least part of the foundation for the Republican takeover of the House in 2010.”

And it’s not just The Times noticing Democrats’ distaste for the president’s latest stimulus bill. Speaking to NBC’s Chuck Todd on MSNBC this morning, Joe Scarborough observed, “Their problem is though of course, Chuck, this morning, the Democrats are the ones that are in open revolt . . . .” Todd replied, “That’s right. It’s the Democrats.” Politico writes today, “It’s open season on President Barack Obama — and that’s just from members of his own party.” Yesterday, Roll Call noted, “President Barack Obama’s plans to pay for his jobs legislation are facing a cool reception from some House Democrats . . . .” And Politico reported, “President Barack Obama’s new jobs plan is hitting some unexpected turbulence in the halls of Congress: lawmakers from his own party.”

Senate Democrats have called the new stimulus proposal “terrible,” declared the tax increases paying for it are “not going to fly,” referring to them as “frustrating” with “an unfairness to it.” Others have questioned whether it’s even worth trying to pass the whole thing together. And Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) declared, “I have serious questions about the level of spending that President Obama has proposed, as well as the actual effectiveness some of these policies will have when it comes to creating jobs.”

And though “[i]n five speeches over a week, President Obama has said ‘pass this bill’ or some variant of it 90 times,” according to Politico, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) doesn’t seem to share the president’s urgency. National Journal reports, “President Obama’s calls for quick action on his plan to boost employment are aimed at pressuring Republicans, but he faces a more immediate hurdle in Senate Democrats’ plodding pace. The floor schedule outlined by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., means that Obama’s plan may await action until late October or later. . . . The president’s latest demand for congressional speed came a day after Reid indicated he plans to take up a lengthy list of measures that look likely to delay a vote on Obama’s proposal for at least a month.”

Related:

Rasmussen Reports:

17% Say U.S. Heading In Right Direction

Romney 43%, Obama 40%

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