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I think Rivers made a similar mistake to Frankie Boyle– offensive jokes, about the most offensive things you can think of, fine, but they have to be funny. Often they both said the most offensive thing they could think of purely because it was offensive, kind of for shock value. I'd still much rather comedians went too far than not far enough.
William.
Laughter is a coping strategy against things we find uncomfortable. That's why jokes about 'others', those not 'us' are funny. The reduction in racist jokes over the last 30 years is due to an acceptance of different races and an understanding of our changing society. Likewise sexist jokes, not very funny to many today. I saw a jimmy Carr show with my parents -cue an hour of incest jokes, thanks Jimmy.
Monkeys laugh at leopards, not because those stupid spots remind them of Kat Slater, but because they are scared.
Maybe Obama liked Joan Rivers' work, modern humour often pokes fun at the comedian for holding outdated views, thus Obama may laugh at those who retain their 1950's viewpoint.
Or maybe he though she was a twat. I've heard he prefers cat memes anyway.