Brown 'shocked' by Biden VP choice

Former U.S. Sen. Hank Brown told PolitickerCO.com Saturday afternoon that he was “shocked” to hear Barack Obama had picked U.S. Sen. Joe Biden (D-Del.) as his running-mate, given Biden’s “been probably the most articulate critic of Obama on the Democratic side.”

“Joe’s comments or criticisms of Obama with regard to Iraq, Afghanistan, and Iran and Pakistan were all devastating,” Brown said. “If you remember Joe really kind of lectured Obama with regard to Pakistan when Obama talked about invading Pakistan. So it’s really a surprise.”

Asked why he thought Obama picked Biden, Brown said, “Perhaps he thought all the things that Biden had said would not be noticed.

“ It may well be, though, that he thought Biden could make up for his shortcomings in foreign policy, and certainly Joe (has), having been chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, a pretty strong credential there,” Brown said.

Brown, who served in the U.S. Senate with Biden from 1991 until 1997, described Biden as “a nice guy; he’s a liberal Democrat who will be a team player for Obama, I’m sure.”

As for John McCain’s vice-presidential pick, widely reported to be coming Aug. 29, Brown said he doubted Obama’s pick would influence McCain’s selection.

“John’s tendency in all of these things is to do what he thinks will serve the country best,” Brown said. “It’s the same thing (for McCain) to oppose ethanol in Iowa, favor the (Yucca Mountain nuclear) waste disposal in Nevada. John kind of is guided by not what’s opportune but what he thinks is right.”