Liz Cheney cancels Schaumburg appearance due to father's illness

Liz Cheney, daughter of former Vice President Dick Cheney, canceled her appearance at a Lincoln Day Republican dinner in Schaumburg Monday night to visit her father in the hospital, event co-organizer Mary Alice Benoit said late Monday afternoon.

The dinner at the Schaumburg Marriott was organized as a fundraiser for the Republican committees of Barrington, Elk Grove, Hanover, Palatine, Schaumburg and Wheeling townships.

Schaumburg Township Republican Committeeman Mike Adelizzi said earlier that the dinner's organizing committee looks for a prominent keynote speaker every year for the annual event.

Liz Cheney's scheduled appearance had been arranged with the help of former Schaumburg Township Trustee Joe Folisi, who has known former President George W. Bush's senior adviser Karl Rove since they were both involved with College Republicans decades ago.

Monday's dinner ws expected to go forward with other scheduled speakers, but not the keynote speaker.