While the shutdown has turned off some citizens from the business of government, for one citizen, the chaos has inspired a potential run for office.
Medal of Honor recipient Dakota Meyer confirmed to a local Kentucky newspaper that he is mulling a congressional run in 2016. “It’s something I’ve always been interested in,” the Afghanistan War veteran said. “It was my dream to serve this country in the military, and now it’s my dream to serve this country in politics.”
“It’s something that I’m very seriously considering,” the Adair Progress quotes Meyer as saying. He is still in the “planning and strategizing stage right now,” but “it’s a real possibility.”
On Tuesday night, the 25-year-old Marine told the Marine Corps Times that he was interested in running for Congress “someday,” but did not indicate a specific time frame, political platform, or party allegiance. “I love Americans and I believe in this country,” he said. “I really appreciate the overwhelming support and encouragement, and I hope to someday serve America again.”
Meyer received a flurry of support, especially from his 24,000 Twitter followers, after he tweeted at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday:
Congress 2016, POTUS 2024!
— Dakota Meyer (@Dakota_Meyer) October 1, 2013
Meyer first complained about the government shutdown Monday night, tweeting:
I’ve decided I think that for everyday the federal government shuts down, we shouldn’t have to pay federal taxes. What about you??
— Dakota Meyer (@Dakota_Meyer) October 1, 2013
Meyer, now a sergeant in the Marine Corps Individual Ready Reserve, has continued to receive public support for a congressional run.
President Obama presented the Medal of Honor to Meyer on Sept. 15, 2011 for risking his life to rescue 36 American and Afghan soldiers during a firefight in 2009. Originally from Columbia, Kentucky, Meyer was one of the youngestrecipients of the honor at age 23, and he is the first living Marine to receive the medal since the Vietnam War.
“You did your duty, above and beyond,” President Obama said during the medal service.
Clare Kim