Cleve Andrew Pulley was active in the civil rights movement during the 1960s and worked in a steel mill before serving as a U.S. Army veteran in the Vietnam War, where he opposed the conflict. He delivered a speech at a significant protest march in Washington, D.C. and was one of the Fort Jackson Eight. Pulley has a history of running for various political offices as a Socialist Workers Party nominee, including vice president, mayor of Chicago, and congressional seats. He has consistently opposed privatization in public services, as evidenced by his stance against the privatization of Wayne County General Hospital.

Cleve Andrew Pulley's political identity is marked by a consistent opposition to militarism and privatization, rooted in his experiences in the civil rights movement and the Vietnam War. His ideological stance is unconventional, blending radical anti-war sentiment with a focus on local economic issues, as seen in his opposition to privatizing Wayne County General Hospital. Pulley's rhetorical style is compelling, often framing national issues within the context of local impacts, which invites deeper inquiry into his strategic motivations.