I Will Raise This Family to Greatness - Chapter 189

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 189
Urgency colored Barack Obama’s voice.
– Sung-guk, no, listen. I’m sending my campaign manager to your company. Please, give me some strategy, any strategy at all!
“I’ll be waiting.”
I hung up and stretched languidly.
I searched for SNS content related to Barack Obama using the Apple phone I’d activated a few days earlier.
The fact that Obama carried diverse racial heritage as a person of color was far too well-known.
That’s why he bore such enigmatic names as Barack and Hussein.
Just then, Jeon Tae-guk burst through the door with an elated expression.
“Mark, Sung-guk! I finally activated my Apple phone!”
“Tae-guk, you’re going to end up in the newspapers again at this rate.”
“Once I start working at Samjeon, I won’t be able to use any Apple products anyway. I need to enjoy them while I can! But Mark, why are you here at our place instead of your own home?”
“The Democratic primary results came out, so I was discussing them with Sung-guk.”
“Obviously Hillary won, right?”
[Such terrible instincts!]
“Obviously Barack won.”
At my answer, Jeon Tae-guk’s expression grew quite serious.
“Please tell me Barack won’t actually become president?”
“Why would you say that?”
“Isn’t Barack Obama’s middle name Hussein? The internet’s been going crazy about it. They’re saying Barack is Muslim.”
[So there are people here who believe fake news too.]
Mark shook his head.
“Tae-guk, Barack is Christian. He even posts photos of himself at church. What are you talking about?”
“But why is his name Hussein then? That’s a Muslim name.”
“Hyung, it’s because Barack himself has diverse racial heritage.”
“Hmm… I see. Anyway, I don’t have voting rights, but I’m supporting Republican John McCain. He could be Muslim and just pretending not to be by posting church photos. Either way, I don’t like Muslims!”
I stroked my chin thoughtfully.
In the aftermath of Saddam Hussein and the Iraq War, American sentiment toward Muslims had soured considerably, and this would clearly work against Barack Obama.
* * *
Barack Obama’s SNS manager arrived urgently at the FaceNote office.
He was a tall man with an approachable face.
“Hello. I’m Harry Truman from the Barack Obama Campaign.”
“Hello. I’m Jeon Sung-guk.”
“The candidate has spoken highly of you. You’re quite handsome. You’re still in your teens, correct?”
“Yes.”
[Though there’s a fifty-year-old living inside me.]
I shrugged my shoulders casually.
Harry Truman flashed a typical politician’s smile as he laid bare Barack Obama’s current predicament.
“Because the candidate’s middle name is Hussein, many people are misunderstanding. Republican supporters are spreading it across various SNS platforms as if it were fact. The candidate said rumors should be countered with humor, so I’ve come personally to seek your advice on how to execute that strategy.”
“Lately, people upload short videos to SNS. What if we created humorous short videos and sent them to people? We’d be directly confronting the rumor head-on. For example, the candidate tries to enter a mosque, but they stop him saying, ‘Aren’t you Christian? You can’t enter here.’ Then the candidate responds, ‘Before being Christian, I’m American,’ and confidently walks into the mosque.”
Harry listened intently to my pitch.
I poured out ideas that had been brewing since yesterday with passionate enthusiasm.
“The truth is, the United States is a society where people like me—an Asian—and many different ethnicities coexist with diverse cultural backgrounds. Yet they’re all Americans regardless of race or religion.”
“That’s genuinely refreshing.”
“So what if we end with a line like this: ‘Are you American?’ Then the candidate and people of various races, religions, and even sexual minorities would answer together, ‘We are American.'”
“Are you American?! I really like that phrase. Once the rumors started spreading, we posted photos of the candidate going to church with his family on social media, but once the rumors took hold, we couldn’t stop them. People even commented on the church photos saying it was all staged and manufactured.”
“People believe what they want to believe anyway. I think it’s more important to actively appeal to young undecided voters and people of color—those who have faced discrimination in America—rather than trying to convince already committed Republican supporters.”
Harry Truman immediately transcribed my ideas and sent them directly to the campaign staff.
Then he looked at me.
“Sung-guk, if we do make this video, would you be willing to appear in it?”
“I think everyone forgets—I’m Korean. It doesn’t align with the purpose of this advertisement at all.”
“Oh, that’s right!”
Harry laughed good-naturedly, then quickly checked the time.
“Sung-guk, thank you so much for taking time out of your busy schedule.”
“One last thing—if a prominent Republican figure publicly endorsed Barack Obama, that would be perfect.”
“Is there someone like that?”
“Dick Powell.”
Dick Powell was an American war hero and former Secretary of Defense under the Bush administration—an extraordinarily influential figure.
“Dick Powell? But he’s a dyed-in-the-wool Republican supporter. He’s even been mentioned as a potential Republican presidential candidate. Sung-guk, I don’t think that’s realistic.”
“John McCain will likely choose Sarah Harris as his running mate to absorb Hillary Clinton’s voters.”
“Sarah Harris? You mean the Governor of Alaska?”
I nodded.
Sarah Harris, as Alaska’s governor, had gained support from conservative Republicans by championing abstinence-focused policies. However, lacking basic political acumen and facing revelations of bribery and embezzlement scandals, she would become the decisive factor that sank the John McCain ticket even faster.
“If Sarah Harris is nominated as running mate, Dick will definitely support Barack. Let’s use that moment to approach him.”
“I’ll try to bring it up. But… do you really think something like that will happen?”
Harry Truman still looked skeptical.
[Believe it or not, Harry.]
I shrugged.
Harry smiled like the seasoned politician he was and extended his hand for a handshake.
“We’ll see you at the White House party, right?”
“I have no doubt we will.”
I gripped his hand firmly.
* * *
After Harry Truman left, Mark opened the office door and stepped out.
“Sung-guk, did that guy leave?”
“Yeah.”
“Honestly, if Barack Obama looks like he’ll become president, helping him would benefit us. But from where I’m standing, you’re helping a bit too much. A simple endorsement would’ve been enough.”
“I’m doing this for my country.”
“For South Korea?”
The numerous diplomatic relations between South Korea and the Barack Obama administration were nearly a dark chapter in history.
People often mistake the American president for a global guardian of peace, as depicted in Hollywood films, but in reality, he is merely the president of the United States. That meant he prioritized his own nation’s interests above all else.
Unfortunately, during Barack Obama’s tenure, South Korea’s diplomatic influence was in a deplorable state, and as a result, the United States often sided with Japan—from the FTA negotiations to matters of Korea-Japan relations.
If I could grow closer to Barack Obama, it might actually benefit Korean diplomacy. Call it a touch of patriotism, perhaps.
I stroked my chin thoughtfully.
“I’m Korean, so it would be advantageous to befriend the American president, wouldn’t it?”
“Sung-guk, be honest—you want to get close to Barack Obama so you can conduct business in Korea more smoothly, right?”
“Serve my country and make money at the same time. Isn’t that the true spirit of capitalism?”
“I honestly can’t even imagine how many steps ahead you’re thinking.”
Mark chuckled softly, then suddenly his expression turned serious as he looked at me.
“By the way, Sung-guk. There’s something I wanted to discuss with you.”
“What is it?”
“I’m thinking about getting married.”
I froze in place.
Mark was getting married? Now?
“Mark…”
“Sung-guk, you’re too young to understand, but I’m at an age where I need to settle down. I’m twenty-three now.”
“It’s just… the fact that you want to get married is hard to believe. Your fiancée is obviously Lim Mi-mi, right?”
“Of course.”
Mark smiled at the mere thought of Lim Mi-mi.
“But Mark… couldn’t you wait until after we take the company public?”
“You’re asking me to wait until FaceNote goes public?”
“Yes. Mark, if you get married, you won’t be able to work as hard as you do now.”
Mark clicked his tongue in disapproval.
“Sung-guk, are you telling me not to get married so I’ll work harder?”
“That’s not it… but at this pace, it’ll take about five years to go public. Wouldn’t it be better to marry after that? Honestly, even if you were a hopeless romantic before, getting married right after dating only Lim Mi-mi doesn’t seem right. I’m saying this as a true friend who’s concerned about you.”
[This all comes from life experience…]
“Sung-guk!”
Mark’s face flushed with anger. He was clearly furious.
[Did I go too far?]
“Mark, don’t misunderstand me. Lim Mi-mi is already busy working late every day… if you get married on top of that, things will be even more hectic.”
“You’re a real exploitative boss.”
[Someone has to play the villain, after all.]
Just then, Lim Mi-mi entered the office looking haggard.
“Boss, we need to hire more security team members. With the presidential election coming up, things are really intense. SNS usage is skyrocketing. But why do you two look like that?”
“Mark said he wants to marry you, so I told him to wait until after we take the company public, and now he’s upset.”
Lim Mi-mi stared at Mark in disbelief.
“Mark, please discuss things like that with me first. Don’t go talking to the boss about it.”
“Oh… I’m sorry, Mi-mi.”
“Mark, you didn’t even discuss this with Lim Mi-mi first?”
“Well, we live together anyway, so I thought we’d just get married.”
“Mark, I’ll see you at home later.”
Lim Mi-mi cast a subtle glance before leaving the office, and Mark trailed after her like a puppy.
I shook my head in disbelief.
[Marriage is the grave of life, Mark.]
* * *
Harry Truman was staring at the breaking news that had just come in.
– Republican presidential candidate John McCain nominates Alaska Governor Sarah Harris as vice presidential candidate!
[Sung-guk was right.]
In that instant, Harry rushed frantically to Barack Obama.
Barack Obama was preparing to film a video produced based on an idea Sung-guk had given him.
“Candidate, John McCain has nominated Sarah Harris as his vice presidential running mate. You know, that abstinence advocate.”
“That’s unexpected. I suppose he’s trying to capture Hillary Clinton’s voters.”
“Candidate, but here’s the thing. Sung-guk predicted this situation exactly.”
“What?”
Barack Obama asked, visibly taken aback.
“When we went to discuss this video that day. Just as we were parting ways, Sung-guk said that John McCain would probably nominate Sarah Harris as his vice presidential candidate. To capture Hillary Clinton’s voters, just as you mentioned. And he gave me another piece of advice too… but I never told you about it.”
“What advice was that?”
“He said to ask Dick Powell for your endorsement.”
“Dick Powell?”
“Yes… I was so taken aback at the time that I just heard it and forgot about it.”
Barack Obama quickly searched Dick Powell’s posts.
Dick Powell was openly expressing his displeasure at Sarah Harris being nominated as vice presidential candidate.
– John McCain seems to have chosen Sarah Harris for a faster downfall.
Barack Obama quickly glanced at Harry.
“Go set up a meeting with Dick Powell right away.”
“Yes, Candidate.”
* * *
Barack Obama’s video spread continuously across social media and began receiving widespread public support.
Ellen Oprah played the video on her TV talk show and openly declared her endorsement.
Just one day after the video was posted, Dick Powell reached out, and Barack Obama had arranged to stop by his residence briefly while traveling.
Barack Obama quickly stepped out of the car and knocked on the door of the dormitory where Dick Powell was staying.
Soon, Dick Powell’s voice came from inside.
“Come in.”
Barack Obama quickly straightened his suit jacket and opened the door.
Click— the moment the door opened, what came into Barack Obama’s view was Sung-guk conversing with Dick Powell.
“Sung-guk, how did you get here….”
“It turns out Dick here served as a U.S. soldier stationed in Korea for a long time. We were just talking about that.”
Barack Obama stared at Sung-guk with astonished eyes.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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