Editing Hardball with Chris Matthews (section)

===Confrontations===
[[File:John Harwood and Howard Fineman being interviewed on HARDBALL (2008).jpg|thumb|right|220px|Chris Matthews (right) interviews [[John Harwood (journalist)|John Harwood]] (left) and [[Howard Fineman]] (center) on ''Hardball'', while in Denver for the [[2008 Democratic National Convention]].]]

====Michelle Malkin====
On August 19, 2004, conservative commentator [[Michelle Malkin]] appeared on the show and raised the question of whether Democratic candidate [[John Kerry]]'s [[Vietnam War]] wounds could have been "self-inflicted", saying that such questions were "legitimate". Matthews repeatedly asked Malkin if she thought that Kerry "shot himself on purpose" in order to avoid combat or to gain accolades, noting that such an act would constitute a criminal offense. Matthews challenged Malkin to "say to me right now that you believe he shot himself to get credit for a [[Purple Heart]]—on purpose." Malkin refused to answer, instead referring to allegations made by some of Kerry's former fellow soldiers. Matthews told Malkin that ''Hardball'' "is not a show for this kind of talk." Malkin asked if Matthews didn't wonder whether Kerry's wounds may have been self-inflicted, to which the host responded, "No! I don't, it's never occurred to me."<ref>{{YouTube|JoM90bAsr1M|Michelle Malkin on Hardball}}</ref>

====Zell Miller====
Days later, then-U.S. Senator [[Zell Miller]], ([[Democratic Party (United States)|D]]&ndash;[[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]]), a Democrat who supported then-Republican President [[George W. Bush]], appeared on ''Hardball''. Miller had just given the keynote address at the Republican [[2004 Republican National Convention|convention]]. Matthews took Miller to task for his statement that soldiers, not reporters, are responsible for freedom of the press, accusing the senator of making the comment only "to get an applause line against the media at a conservative convention." Miller had also criticized Kerry's record on national defense issues during his speech, prompting Matthews to ask if the senator believed that Kerry did not want to "defend the country." During a heated exchange in which each man interrupted the other several times, Miller shouted at Matthews to "get out of my face" and angrily stated that he wished "we lived in the day where you could challenge a person to a duel." He also made reference to the Malkin interview, telling Matthews not to "pull that stuff on me like you did that young lady, when you had her there browbeating her to death. I'm not her."<ref>{{YouTube|mRRMUKh9iQM|Zell Miller Slams Chris Matthews}}</ref>

====Ann Coulter and Elizabeth Edwards====
On June 26, 2007, conservative commentator [[Ann Coulter]] was the guest when [[Elizabeth Edwards]], wife of then-Democratic presidential candidate [[John Edwards]], made a surprise (per Coulter, afterwards) call to the program. Coulter had made a speech days earlier in which she said, "I was going to have a few comments on the other Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards, but it turns out you have to go into rehab if you use the word 'faggot'."<ref>{{Cite news | title = Coulter under fire for anti-gay slur | newspaper = [[CNN]]| date = March 4, 2007| url = http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/03/04/coulter.edwards/index.html| access-date = February 25, 2010| quote = I was going to have a few comments on the other Democratic presidential candidate, John Edwards, but it turns out that you have to go into rehab if you use the word 'faggot,' so I'm - so, kind of at an impasse, can't really talk about Edwards}}</ref> Elizabeth Edwards confronted Coulter about the comment, as well as other comments Coulter had made accusing John Edwards of exploiting his son's death for political gain. Edwards asked Coulter to "stop the personal attacks" and accused her of "lowering the political dialogue" in America. Coulter responded that Edwards' complaints were an attempt to raise money for the presidential campaign, and questioned why the candidate himself was not making the call.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20070629114716/http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/06/26/236484.aspx Elizabeth Edwards vs. Ann Coulter - First Read] MSNBC.com</ref>

====Kevin James====
On May 15, 2008, Matthews had a confrontation with radio broadcaster [[Kevin James (broadcaster)|Kevin James]] when he appeared on the show. At issue was a controversial speech made by President [[George W. Bush]] in Israel, where he appeared to claim that statements made by United States presidential candidate Barack Obama were tantamount to [[Neville Chamberlain]]'s actions of "Nazi [[appeasement]]" in 1938. James agreed with the notion that Obama's positions were like Chamberlain's policy of appeasement but was unable to elaborate on what exactly Chamberlain did.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20130129090138/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/21134540/ Video Clip Appearance] from NBC News's ''Hardball'' depicting Chris Matthews with Kevin James</ref>