He has, and continues to get it...
IMHO, what I believe Obama understands is that there are so many ways of getting Science and Technology back in the mainstream of our culture, and how we do it exactly will intertwine with other pressing political issues.
The big elephant in the room that tends to drive what happens in these areas is international policy and relations (seeing now were in a Globalized society). The problems in that area tend to trickle down to the problems in science and technology (somehow, exactly how, I would write a full theoretical essay on).
So, in brief, a solution in international matters may just bring a solution to what is stifling scientific and technological progress.
That said, learning a thing or two about politics is critical.
As far as translating Obama's positions into funding and support for FIRST, it is important to remember that there are many more student science and engineering programs out there. Pretty sure a google search will fill you in on that. They will likely fund that which brings a very specific something to the table, what that is, I do not know. FIRST therefor needs to diversify to the fullest extent possible the areas of technology it covers in competition in an effort to show the government and Obama that they could use us as a force of change.
My rough 2 cents. Take it for what it is worth.
