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Even though McDonald was a Democrat, he was very conservative, being even more conservative than many, if not most, Republicans.<ref name="Killing"/> He received a perfect score of 100 from the [[American Conservative Union]] every year expect 1978, when he received a 95.<ref name="Killing"/> In addition, he received high ratings from other conservative organizations including the [[National Right to Life Committee]], [[Gun Owners of America]], and the [[American Security Council]].<ref name="Killing"/> In fact, in a survey done by the ''American Journal of Political Science'', McDonald was rated as the second most conservative member of either the U.S. House or Senate between 1937 and 2002, only behind [[Ron Paul]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Poole|first=Keith T.|title=Is John Kerry a Liberal?|date=2004-10-13|url=http://voteview.com/Is_John_Kerry_A_Liberal.htm|accessdate=2009-08-24}}</ref>

Even though McDonald was a Democrat, he was very conservative, being even more conservative than many, if not most, Republicans.<ref name="Killing"/> He received a perfect score of 100 from the [[American Conservative Union]] every year expect 1978, when he received a 95.<ref name="Killing"/> In addition, he received high ratings from other conservative organizations including the [[National Right to Life Committee]], [[Gun Owners of America]], and the [[American Security Council]].<ref name="Killing"/> In fact, in a survey done by the ''American Journal of Political Science'', McDonald was rated as the second most conservative member of either the U.S. House or Senate between 1937 and 2002, only behind [[Ron Paul]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Poole|first=Keith T.|title=Is John Kerry a Liberal?|date=2004-10-13|url=http://voteview.com/Is_John_Kerry_A_Liberal.htm|accessdate=2009-08-24}}</ref>

McDonald was so conservative that in 1978 the 7th District Democratic Committee (the district he represented) "voted 10-8-1 in favor of a resolution that would censure McDonald 'for the dishonorable and despicable act of calling himself a Democrat.'"<ref name="Killing"/> Various reasons for this was McDonald's membership in the John Birch Society, his refusal to support [[Jimmy Carter]]'s presidential candidacy, not believing that there were implied powers in the [[Constitution]], and allegedly using "misleading advertisements during his campaigns."<ref name="Killing"/>

McDonald was so conservative that in 1978 the 7th District Democratic Committee (the district he represented) "voted 10–8–1 in favor of a resolution that would censure McDonald 'for the dishonorable and despicable act of calling himself a Democrat.'"<ref name="Killing"/> Various reasons for this was McDonald's membership in the John Birch Society, his refusal to support [[Jimmy Carter]]'s presidential candidacy, not believing that there were implied powers in the [[Constitution]], and allegedly using "misleading advertisements during his campaigns."<ref name="Killing"/>

In 1976, the [[American Party]] approached McDonald about running for [[President]] on its ticket, but he declined.<ref name="Killing"/> In 1983, he became the second president of the John Birch Society.<ref name="Killing"/>

In 1976, the [[American Party]] approached McDonald about running for [[President]] on its ticket, but he declined.<ref name="Killing"/> In 1983, he became the second president of the John Birch Society.<ref name="Killing"/>