Could Apple, inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) ever send Steve Jobs packing even if he is found guilty of stock options backdating or other related malfeasance related to the timing and dating of stock options as to maximize profits for a few lucky ones (including himself)?

I can't recall a company in any industry that is so closely tied to its leader, founder and CEO as Apple, Inc. is right now. Jobs practically invented the manic attention to detail and the consumer experience and has created one of the most loyal followings of any consumer brand I can think of. Other notables are Nike, Sony (which is withering on the vine) and BMW.

So, could Apple really show Jobs the door if wrongdoings -- any wrongdoings -- are uncovered and proven true? Would AAPL investors look the other way to ensure the leader of the company that has made many quite the financial windfall stays put? Here is where the true test of what a "double standard" can mean if Jobs ends up being involved in the ongoing options backdating situation at Apple, Inc.

Right after wowing the crowd at Macworld, Steve Jobs did an interview with CNBC. It starts off all about the iPhone, but at the five minute mark, the question about backdated stock options and whether Jobs will remain CEO of Apple, Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) comes up. Steve responds that he was frustrated by the press, who he perceives as not doing their research well. He goes on to talk about the internal and external investigations Apple started, and points out that the company handed the results over to the SEC.

The money quote: "We did find some things that we didn't wish we had, but we turned it all over to the SEC."

Scrub the video over to the five minute mark to see Steve talk about his confidence that current leadership at Apple would remain on, and his wish to continue running the company.

With the current legal problems that are occurring in Apple-land, the story of current CEO Steve Jobs continues to unfold in mysterious ways. Does Jobs really have a "reality distortion field" that he uses to win consumers over to the Apple view of the world? According to many in the tech community, he does. But that power may not extend to possible back-dating of Apple Computer, Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) stock options.

Tomorrow, Jobs will take center stage in his familiar role as keynote presenter/semi-magician at MacWorld, which is famously held at the same time as the Consumer Electronics Show in Vegas. Only Jobs could pull that off in a move that he knows will most likely garner the world's attention.

Is Jobs completely in the clear regarding his involvement in the possible resetting of start dates for company stock options for himself and others? Even Al Gore found "no misconduct" in possible back-dating involving Jobs recently. Is Jobs being treated unfairly in this situation since he has made the star of Apple shine so bright for so many investors and consumers? Managing Director Alan Johnson of Johnson Associates says that "He knew what he was doing. It wasn't 'the dog ate it.' He backdated the options on purpose and the committee said it will give him a free pass." Yikes -- that's one against Jobs. But how many for him?