[3.0/LINQ] base class access outside method

[kleinma]

In VB.NET you can access a base class via the MyBase keyword, and in C# it is via base keyword.

My question is, does anyone know why C# is designed in such a way that you can only access this base class variable inside a method. In VB it is within scope anywhere in the class (other than shared methods).

'this works
Public Class ExtendedTextbox
    Inherits System.Windows.Forms.TextBox

    Private _backColor As Color = MyBase.BackColor
End Class

//this doesn't
class ExtendedTextbox : System.Windows.Forms.TextBox
{
    private Color _backColor = base.BackColor; //ERROR ON THIS LINE
}