McCain: Obama race remarks 'very impressive'

President Obama (Photo: Carolyn Kaster, AP)

President Obama on Friday made his most extensive comments on race since entering the White House, and they are generating extensive commentary.

Sen. John McCain, the Arizona Republican who lost the 2008 presidential race to Obama, called the president's remarks "very impressive," and said they should help all Americans think about how to improve race relations in the wake of race relations.

"I think we continue to make progress," McCain told CNN's State of the Union, recent events who "we still have a long way to go."

McCain also said he wouldn't "second guess" the Florida jury's decision July 13 to acquit George Zimmerman for the death of the 17-year-old Trayvon.

During a surprise appearance in the White House briefing room on Friday, Obama said all Americans should respect the Zimmerman verdict. Speaking personally and emotionally, he also said white Americans should understand the pain that African-Americans feel over Trayvon's death, and the deep suspicions they harbor about the justice system.

"Trayvon Martin could have been me 35 years ago," said the nation's first African-American president, adding that " it's important to recognize that the African American community is looking at this issue through a set of experiences and a history that doesn't go away."

Obama's remarks dominated discussions on Sunday news shows, winning many compliments, but also some criticism.

Journalist Tavis Smiley told NBC's Meet The Press that Obama -- who has often avoided public discussions of race during his presidency -- had to be "pushed" to the podium in the wake of outrage over the Zimmerman verdict.

"On this issue, you cannot lead from behind," said Smiley, an African-American.

During his White House remarks, Obama called for new and better law enforcement training to defuse tensions with minorities, and criticized racial profiling and Florida's "stand your ground" law. The president called on Americans to do "soul searching" about how to treat each other better.

"We have to be vigilant and we have to work on these issues," Obama said. "And those of us in authority should be doing everything we can to encourage the better angels of our nature, as opposed to using these episodes to heighten divisions."