<P> In 1996 Congressman Kweisi Mfume, a Democratic Congressman from Maryland and former head of the Congressional Black Caucus, was named the organization's president . Three years later strained finances forced the organization to drastically cut its staff, from 250 in 1992 to 50 . </P> <P> In the second half of the 1990s, the organization restored its finances, permitting the NAACP National Voter Fund to launch a major get - out - the - vote offensive in the 2000 U.S. presidential elections . 10.5 million African Americans cast their ballots in the election . This was one million more than four years before . The NAACP's effort was credited by observers as playing a significant role in Democrat Al Gore's winning several states where the election was close, such as Pennsylvania and Michigan . </P> <P> During the 2000 Presidential election, Lee Alcorn, president of the Dallas NAACP branch, criticized Al Gore's selection of Senator Joe Lieberman for his Vice-Presidential candidate because Lieberman was Jewish . On a gospel talk radio show on station KHVN, Alcorn stated, "If we get a Jew person, then what I'm wondering is, I mean, what is this movement for, you know? Does it have anything to do with the failed peace talks?"... "So I think we need to be very suspicious of any kind of partnerships between the Jews at that kind of level because we know that their interest primarily has to do with money and these kind of things ." </P> <P> NAACP President Kweisi Mfume immediately suspended Alcorn and condemned his remarks . Mfume stated, "I strongly condemn those remarks . I find them to be repulsive, anti-Semitic, anti-NAACP and anti-American . Mr. Alcorn does not speak for the NAACP, its board, its staff or its membership . We are proud of our long - standing relationship with the Jewish community and I personally will not tolerate statements that run counter to the history and beliefs of the NAACP in that regard ." </P>

Who worked for racial equality and was a founder of the naacp