You know who I blame? That’s right, da Joooooos!

NEW ORLEANS — After months of debate, the journalism award named for veteran White House correspondent and current Falls Church News-Press columnist Helen Thomas will remain retired. In a sharply divided vote among delegates at the Society of Professional Journalists’ national convention in New Orleans Tuesday, the national board’s January decision to retire the award after Thomas made remarks critical of Israel was upheld by an 85-71 margin.

Two resolutions to reinstate the award came before the SPJ’s convention delegates at Tuesday’s closing business session. Delegates voted down a first resolution on a voice vote, and then voted 85-71 to defeat a second resolution that was sponsored by a coalition of members.

During a half-hour floor debate, following months of extensive e-mail exchanges on the subject among members of the society, some said they favored retiring the award rather than removing Thomas’s name because it would prevent future recipients from being associated with the controversy.

“It’s not an award to honor Helen Thomas every year; it’s an award to honor members of SPJ every year,” said Jeremy Steele, a member of the society’s diversity committee. “Is it fair to the person getting the award for a cloud to be over it?”