Doug Hoffman, the Conservative Party candidate in the NY-23 special election, has sworn off earmarks as part of his campaign to cut the size of government in Washington -- but it turns out that he's not so pure on this subject, the Watertown Daily Times reports.

Hoffman sat on the finance committee of a local hospital, the Adirondack Medical Center, which two years ago asked Republican Rep. John McHugh (whose appointment as Secretary of the Army triggered this special election) for federal funding to construct a primary health clinic.

The hospital ultimately received $479,000. This was actually less than the undisclosed amount that the hospital had originally asked for, which is a typical practice in a process that involves requesting a large amount and securing a smaller one.

Hoffman spokesman Rob Ryan told the paper that Hoffman's concern with earmarks is about the secretive process in Washington. "Doug Hoffman believes that primary health care is one of the most important things a community can offer its citizens," Ryan said, adding: "Worthwhile projects should be debated as part of the regular budget process and be voted on out in the open, for all to see. This will end the culture of corruption that exists in Washington and stop the career politicians and their backroom deals."

Matt Burns, the spokesman for Republican nominee Dede Scozzafava -- who has been attacked by Hoffman and his supporters as a big spender -- gave us this comment: "Before he was just dishonest. Now he's a hypocrite, too."

Late Update: Hoffman's campaign sends us the full text of their statement: "Doug Hoffman believes that primary healthcare is one of the most important things a community can offer to its citizens. To insinuate that he would oppose funding for hospitals is laughable. Doug believes that total transparency should exist. When transparency exists corruption ends. Worthwhile projects should be debated as part of the regular budget process and be voted on out in the open, for all to see. This will end the culture of corruption that exists in Washington and stop the career politicians and their backroom deals."