Is Global Warming for real?

I heard a couple of guys, one was a republican and the other a democrat having a heated discussion about global warming as to whether its scientifically a proven fact or just a myth and it got me to thinking, is global warming something real or is it the far left extremists way of praying on the fears of the “common folk” to make billions of dollars so they can live in luxury? The guy that founded the weather channel, has strongly denied that global warming is real and that people like Al Gore, who has no knowledge on anything related to the ozone layer, greenhouse effects, etc., are using this idea of global warming as a way to scam everyone. Anyone have an opinion on this?