might try to make him their hero because of it. but in the end even glenn beck didn't quite know what to make of this guy or perhaps as hunter thompson once said, when the going gets weird, the weird turn pro. so why did he resign? joe johns tonight is keeping him honest. >> reporter: they're calling him everything from a hero to a moron to a liberal and a deviant scum bag. much of the confusion comes from the various stories he's offered for quitting. >> the story changing day by day seems to change minute by minute. >> reporter: so keeping them honest, we went to lay out massa's explanation. first, he said he was quitting for health reasons. >> i had a heck of a cancer scare. >> that's the explanation he offered wednesday to a key supporter back in his home district. >> he said he had a reoccurrence of cancer and that he couldn't fight cancer, be an effective congressman, and a candidate all at the same time. he did not mention any ethical problems to me. >> reporter: did he say ethics violation?