( CNN ) -- When Mitt Romney picked Paul Ryan as his running mate , the media frenzy surrounding the announcement included claims that the choice was bad for women and that it would not attract women voters . Ryan 's pro-life voting record was especially highlighted , and once again , the `` war on women '' came to the forefront and diverted attention from the ultimate women 's issue in this election -- our dire economic future . It is misguided to think that women vote as a bloc . We are a diverse group , and it is nearly impossible for any candidate to appeal to all sides of the political spectrum . The reality is that women 's top concerns are the same as men 's , and like men , women are more likely to vote along party lines . U.S. Rep. Ryan 's addition to the Republican ticket ensures that the debate about the economy will be vigorous . For women , and all Americans , nothing can be more important . Akin remark puts abortion at center of campaign debate . Women I know and talk to around the country are struggling with a new normal -- unemployment or underemployment , declining wages , having to work harder and longer to make ends meet , increasing food prices , rising gas prices and most of all the fear that their kids will have it even tougher than they do . They are making difficult decisions every day when it comes to their family budget . It is not a rosy picture . Why would Ryan appeal to women ? A peek at his early life is illuminating . Ryan , who grew up the son of a lawyer , lost his father at 16 and was then raised by a single mother . He helped to care for a grandmother afflicted with Alzheimer 's disease who lived with the family , worked after school at McDonald 's to earn extra money and used some of his father 's Social Security death benefits to help pay his way through school . I appreciate Ryan 's personal experiences . Having lost my own mother to cancer at 3 , I grew up with my father working two jobs and lived with my grandparents , who took care of us . I also used Social Security death benefits to help put myself through school and became the first in my family of immigrants to go to college . The Ryan family , like many families in America today , was not immune to experiencing a period of uncertainty . Ryan says this formative period in his life shaped his attitude about self-reliance -- it never occurred to him that his life would not get better . At an event in Arlington , Virginia , on Friday he reminded the audience that aspirations are at the heart of the American Dream . Over the past week , we have learned a lot more about Ryan 's own path and his career in Washington as a budget wonk , rising to become the youngest chairman of the House Budget Committee . There are many voices in Washington , but few have the depth and knowledge about the $ 16 trillion national debt and its crippling effect on the country and the aspirations of future generations . I find it reassuring that Romney made the choice to select Paul Ryan . Ryan has distinguished himself by having the courage to offer big ideas and he is forcing a serious discussion about how to reform entitlements . He deserves credit for talking tough and leveling with the American people about what 's involved in changing the course of our current predicament . Opinion : Rape can make you pregnant . Period . We all know President Barack Obama walked into a very dire economic situation when he came to office , but over the past few years , his policy of growing the government has not put the nation back to work . The poverty rate of women , for example , has climbed to its highest level in nearly two decades and doubts about providing for their families have not been alleviated . American women have to ask themselves if they want a federal government that respects their hard-earned dollars as much as it respects their right to choose . When they do , I am confident they will not be distracted by media hype and attack ads painting Ryan as hostile to women 's concerns ; rather , they will find his efforts to stop the buck from being passed to another generation very appealing . The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Anita McBride .
Some think the choice of Paul Ryan as vice presidential nominee would turn off women . The Washington Post: “[Ryan] is a conservative who has been in Congress for more than 20 years, and he was elected to his seat by running on an anti-abortion platform. She says Ryan has distinguished himself by having the courage to offer big ideas . McBride : Women would welcome Ryan 's efforts in tackling pressing issues facing Americans .