City Desk had a fun post yesterday about the D.C. Republican Committee’s whimsical attempt to protest the District’s new $.05 disposable bag fee by … selling their own reusable bags? Hmmm.

Maybe it’s not as counter-intuitive as it sounds. It’s not difficult to picture the hundreds, if not thousands, of irritated, marginalized small-government conservatives living inside the District who wouldn’t ordinarily be caught dead carrying some Liberal Canvas Bag. This way, the D.C. GOP gets the message out that they are against the bag fee, and their members get to use a slightly less embarrassing reusable jobbie, thus avoiding paying the tax, too. Winners all around.

“We have heard from a large number of D.C. Republicans who agree that cleaning the Anacostia River should be done, but placing a nickel tax on all plastic and paper bags is just ridiculous,” said committee chairman Paul Craney. “We are offering these reusable tote bags in an effort to save our D.C. Republicans that annoying 5 cent tax.”

The bags themselves come in navy and khaki, and are emblazoned with the message “Bag The Bag Tax” on one side, and the D.C. GOP logo on the other. One note of clarification, however, before you order: City Desk had reported that the bags cost $5 each, but actually, the committee is asking for a $25 donation in exchange for the first bag, with additional bags costing $5 apiece. So if you want two bags, it’s $30, three bags, $35, etc. Probably not the most cost effective way to avoid paying that 5 cent fee, but we’re guessing if you’re the sort who’d like to carry these particular bags, the message outweighs the cost.

The D.C. GOP’s limited edition “Bag the Bag Tax” tote bags are available online.