In response to The Day's Sept. 21 editorial asking how anyone can take my candidacy seriously, it is my pleasure to speak on behalf of those who do; the voiceless middle-class and working poor in the district, who have asked me to clearly articulate what's on their minds and bring their message to Washington.

Quoting potential presidential candidate, Dr. Ben Carson, "I hate political correctness." To ridicule my supporters because I accurately defined the word "fascist" and used it appropriately in a sentence, is ridiculous. However, since the term "politically correct" is rooted in communist and socialist doctrine, there could not be a more appropriate time to discuss the media's role as PC Police.

In August of 2007, a number of newspapers across the country refused to publish an Opus cartoon because it might offend Muslims. Censoring Pulitzer Prize winning author Berkeley Breathed did not stop ISIS from forming or the indoctrination of an estimated 70 million Jihadists worldwide, who wish to kill us.

I say it's time to actively "free" speech and focus on the critical political issues that matter. It is time to identify policies that are harmful to our country and hold elected officials and bureaucrats accountable for their actions.

As the daughter of an Italian emigrant mother who came to our shores to escape fascism, I believe it is my duty, as a citizen, to protect our Constitution and liberties. I am running for Congress to help restore economic freedom and rebuild opportunity.

Connecticut trails the country in economic growth and the second district trails the state. We experienced record foreclosures in 2013 and eight straight years of decline during U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney's term. The $3.5 million in stimulus money he gave to Tees Plus did not keep that business open, and the $10 million he's giving a railroad to rebuild 17 miles of track will not put food on our tables or fill our gas tanks. These are not solutions.

While The Day touts Courtney as being responsible for EB's submarine contract with the Navy, everyone knows it was the skilled workers and management at EB that shaved $800 million off the price of each submarine to win the contract. Meanwhile, Courtney lost thousands of high paying jobs at Pfizer and has failed to attract any new industry or business investment, anywhere in the 2nd district.

Even worse, to say the Naval Submarine Base is secure is disingenuous. Courtney cut military spending, forcing the Navy to streamline operations and relocate the rear admiral and five subs, crew and support staff to Virginia. Eliminating this top post in Groton is perhaps a bigger failure than losing Pfizer and the future of the Base is not secure.

Although The Day is focused on southeastern Connecticut and submarines, the district spans the entire eastern half of the state. The spectacular I-395 corridor remains as underutilized today as when Courtney took office. What about Route 11? This untapped opportunity is enormous but the district is poorer for sending Courtney to Washington.

As a business expert, I understand what needs to be done to restore economic prosperity. My plan to revitalize shipbuilding for global export is one of many solutions that I will work on to restore prosperity. Unlike Courtney, I will reform regressive and oppressive tax policies and remove costly regulations to unleash job creation and productivity. Unlike Mr. Courtney, I will secure the border and protect American jobs and wages.

Courtney gave us Obamacare which has hurt small businesses, the working poor and the middle-class, probably more than any other legislation in history. Access to care and quality is decreasing while prices are rising. The health-care industry is shedding jobs and we face a critical shortages of physicians and nurses. It will only get worse.

My opponent has voted for and supported virtually every reckless, progressive-liberal law and policy emanating from the Obama Administration. Courtney has a Freedom Index rating of 18 percent out of 100 and a government transparency score of zero. Why mince words?

Lori-Hopkins Cavanagh is the Republican candidate for Congress in the 2nd Congressional District.