My son was interning for Paul Coverdale at the time in Washington. Both Dole and Simpson worked behind the scenes to see the amendment could not get the votes required while public ally giving the bill public support. Then, once it failed he cosponsored the DOMA. Many knew the DOMA could be more easily changed later or struck down by the courts. He detests Dole to this day not just for that maneuver but several others.
People in WY think the Simpsons are “conservative”, but they rejected Al’s son for governor in 2010 and took Cliff Hansen’s grandson instead.