An attack ad that criticizes Congressman Lincoln-Diaz Balart tries to portray the incumbent Republican as favoring a pay raise for lawmakers over financial support for U.S. troops.

The ad cites the Congressman’s vote on a war funding bill that was eventually vetoed, without stating that he supported subsequent vote on an altered version of the bill.

An organization called Patriot Majority, based in Washington D.C., produced and paid for the 30-second television ad. The opening shots show a succession of men who say they served in the Army and Marine Corps, in Baghdad and in Fallujah.

The men look into the camera and say “Congressman Lincoln Diaz-Balart voted against healthcare for our troops, against rehab for amputees, brain injuries, burn care”. The words HR 1591 are superimposed on the screen.

Diaz-Balart did vote against the war funding bill in March 2007, as did almost every Republican lawmaker opposed to the Democrats’ addition of a troop withdrawal date from Iraq. The bill passed the House and Senate, then died with President Bush’s veto.

The ad does not explain that, three months later, the Congressman voted for a similar funding bill without an attached exit date. That bill eventually became law.

The ad also alleges Diaz-Balart voted for five pay raises for members of Congress.

It does not explain that lawmakers automatically get a cost of living increase every year, unless they vote to cancel it. For six of the last eight years, Congress allowed their raises to take effect.

The Patriot Majority is a 527 special interest group technically and legally unaffiliated with any campaign -- 527s are not bound by election law or campaign finance reporting.

Diaz-Balart's challenger, former Hialeah Mayor Raul Martinez, had nothing to do with the ad, according to his campaign.

In response to Local 10’s e-mailed inquiry, Craig Varoga of Patriot Majority wrote a terse reply:

“We are calling on Congressman Lincoln Diaz-Balart to start supporting our troops and to stop raising his own pay. We want him to change his voting record on these issues. It’s that simple. End of story.”