Wal-Mart denies pressuring employees to vote against Demos even as it admits it

The nice folks who put all the stores on your Main Street out of business -- Wal-Mart -- have admitted pressuring employees to vote against Democratic candidates in the fall even as they've denied the pressure is... well... pressure.

The New York Daily News writes, in part:

A report in The Wall Street Journal said the Arkansas-based discounter - which has resisted being unionized - held mandatory meetings with managers and supervisors to warn that if Democrats take power in November, they would likely push through pro-union legislation.

Company spokesman Dave Tovar confirmed there were talks about a specific congressional measure - allowing labor organizations to unionize workplaces without secret ballot elections - with workers.

But he said the company wasn't advocating that its employees vote against backers of the legislation.

"If anyone representing Wal-Mart gave the impression... they are wrong and acting without approval," said Tovar, who insisted the company works with both political parties.

"Half of our [political action committee] contributions are to members of each party," he said.

Not everyone was buying it though...

"They're trying to bully the American political" scene, said Stewart Acuff of the AFL-CIO, the nation's largest union.

Wal-Mart also may be on thin ice as federal election rules allow businesses to encourage shareholders, executives and salaried managers to back a particular candidate, but prohibit such actions for hourly workers - which typically include department supervisors.