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Medal of Honor Winner Weighs Runs for Congress, White House

By Cathy Burke | Wednesday, 02 October 2013 09:51 PM EDT

Medal of Honor recipient Dakota Meyer says he may be interested in running for Congress — or even the White House.

Meyer, 25, posted his ambitions on his Twitter account to 24,000 followers.

"Congress 2016, POTUS 2024!" he posted Tuesday, triggering an avalanche of thumbs-up tweets.

"There's no one else running for congress, with a background like @Dakota_Meyer and who would do more to support the average American," enthused follower Jacob Beebe tweeted back Wednesday night.

Meyer told the Military Times he was weighing his options for the future after all the messages of support from hundreds of people online Tuesday — the same day the government went into a shutdown driven by lack of a funding bill from Congress.

"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 — who endorsed Texas Republican Gov. Rick Perry during Perry’s failed presidential run in 2012 — started musing about his political future in a series of tweets late Monday and early Tuesday, the Military Times reported.

In the first, Meyer, now a sergeant in the Marine Corps Individual Ready Reserve, complained about the shutdown.

"I’ve decided I think that for every day the federal government shuts down, we shouldn’t have to pay federal taxes," he said. "What about you??"

When others encouraged him to run for office, he responded that he was thinking about it.

When the shutdown took hold at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday, he apparently made up his mind.
"Congress 2016, POTUS 2024!" he tweeted.

Congress 2016, POTUS 2024!
— Dakota Meyer (@Dakota_Meyer) October 1, 2013

Meyer conceded he had no firm date for a congressional run, but he's sure of one thing.

"It’s ridiculous that Congress can’t make a decision," he said.

He also said he was grateful for all the encouragement from followers.

"I want to thank everyone for the overwhelming support & encouragement about my decision to pursue elected office! #makeadifference," he said.

Meyer was awarded the Medal of Honor in 2011 for “conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty” during the Battle of Ganjgal in Kunar Province, Afghanistan, in 2009.

During his White House commemoration ceremony, President Barack Obama noted Meyer saved 36 lives during a Taliban ambush, calling him "the best of a generation that has served through a decade of war."

He was the youngest military serviceman to receive the Medal of Honor.

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