3:53
That compassion has become a calling card, according to Blinken's supporters, who describe him as kind and thoughtful -- qualities on display during a segment with Sesame Street's Grover about refugees that was filmed in September 2016, but went viral again after news of his selection broke Sunday night.
\"Can you imagine how difficult it would be to have to leave your home?\" Blinken asked Grover, who said he never wanted to leave Sesame Street. \"Sadly, refugees have to leave everything behind.\"
\"Even though they come from many different places, they're just like you and me,\" Blinken added in the video. \"We all have something to learn and gain from one another, even when it doesn't seem at first like we have much in common.\"
![\"PHOTO:](\"http://a.abcnews.com/images/Politics/antony-blinken-gty-jt-201123_1606166749745_hpMain_4x3t_384.jpg\")
Supporters hope that means Blinken will take a tougher stance on human rights, especially against China for its assault on Uighurs and other Muslim ethnic minorities or Hong Kong and its democracy -- something Trump refused to do, even as Pompeo made China a frequent target of his withering criticism.
That empathy also seems to be behind Blinken's push for U.S. interventions during the Obama years, including supporting U.S. airstrikes against Muammar Gaddafi's forces in Libya and greater American involvement in Syria's long, bloody war -- two instances where he was on the opposite end of the argument as his boss Biden.
But it's those very policies that have now engendered opposition from some liberal groups, as well as the isolationist streak of Republicans that backed Trump and his call to \"end endless wars\" and stop America's role as the \"world's policeman.\"
\"Blinken has agreed with some of the biggest foreign policy mistakes that Biden and Obama made, and he has tended to be more of an interventionist than both of them,\" wrote Daniel Larison, senior editor of The American Conservative -- while Cindy Wiesner, executive director of Grassroots Global Justice Alliance, said he \"reflects the status quo of the Obama era: pro-war, pro-US intervention, and pro-military agenda.\"
There is one other quality that supporters say will make Blinken a distinctive voice: He's a new father to two young children with his wife Evan Ryan, a former assistant secretary of state.
\"It will be inspiring for working parents everywhere to see America's top diplomat in action as he also helps raise two toddlers,\" tweeted his former colleague Samantha Power, Obama's U.N. ambassador. \"Thanks to Tony & the incomparable Evan Ryan for their family sacrifice.\"
This report was featured in the Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2020, episode of “Start Here,” ABC News’ daily news podcast.
\"Start Here\" offers a straightforward look at the day's top stories in 20 minutes. Listen for free every weekday on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, the ABC News app or wherever you get your podcasts.
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